'Professionalism lacking in the Police force'

 By Frederick Kiwanuka     

THE Central Eastern Regional police commander, Richard Mivule has complained that there is serious lack of professionalism among his staff, after six of them were recently arrested over various malpractices, in Luweero District alone.

He noted that in Bamunanika County, a detective attached to Zirobwe police station was remanded for shooting dead a suspect, while the officer in charge of Kasana police, was prosecuted for allegedly extorting a 600,000 from a cattle thief.

In Katikamu South, the OC of Kalule police post, Jerome Aisu who stormed a campaign rally while drunk, was charged with assault in connection with harassing a female candidate during the recently concluded Luweero MP By-election race.

In Kamira sub-county, a special police constable and the O/C, were arrested and charged after an AK47 that the SPC was holding, accidentally released a bullet that killed a fish monger.

At Luweero police station, a special police Constable was locked for two days after he was nabbed with five kilograms of marijuana that had been stored as an exhibit.

Addressing an end of year press conference in Luweero, Mivule said all the incidents were due to lack of professionalism among the staff.

He said the police officers and men, especially the former LAPs and LDUs needed retraining, and arguing that lack of training was contributing to the unprofessional behavior

“I will begin by retraining all of them, because a trained person can= differentiate between what is lawful and what is unlawful,” he said.

He said he will be compelled to transfer some of the policemen as a last resort in case the retraining fails to work,

On corruption, Mivule apportioned blame on the members of the public in the region, whom he said were too willing to give bribes to policemen, so as to avoid cases.

“The people in the central region have a lot of money and do not mind giving 100,000 to a policeman so as to avoid a case,” he said.

Mivule criticized the widespread witchcraft practices among the residents, saying the practices were fuelling violence.

He said that next year, the police in the region will next year get more involved in cracking down on people who sabotage government programs, like teachers who dodge classes, health workers who steal drugs .