Legislators want law on foreign police deployment

By Henry Sekanjako and Joyce Namutebi

PARLIAMENT has asked government to formulate a policy governing the deployment of Uganda’s police forces and Uganda prison services in foreign countries.

In a motion on deployment of Uganda policemen outside Uganda which was adopted by parliament later last week, MPs recommended that government formulates a structural institutional framework and policy for the protection of officers and men who take part in these deployments.

Parliament also resolved that families of police officers deployed in foreign countries are protected during their relative’s absence.

“The terms of remuneration of the officers and men protection against those in foreign countries as well as institutional and structural measures for the rehabilitation of those injured during the deployment should be streamlined,” said Paul Mwiru the mover of the motion.

Wamai Wamanga (Mbale Municipality) who seconded the motion said the government needed to legalize the deployment of Uganda’s police force outside the country to know the terms and conditions under which the forces can be deployed.

“The work of the police officers is to keep law and order in the country not to be deployed in foreign countries. Families of these people are suffering their relatives are being deployed without any information who is meeting their bills,” asked Wamai.

Rules committee chairperson Jacob Oboth Oboth said there was need for Uganda to formulate a policy on the deployment of Uganda’s forces in foreign countries to close the gaps in the constitution which is silent on deployment of policemen outside Uganda.

In the motion, Parliament also wants the government to investigate the circumstances surrounding deduction of $200 about sh500,000 from the basic pay of deployed police officers.

Further still, the motion requires the government to formulate and publish a clear and detailed selection criterion for persons selected for foreign deployments.

However, state minster for Internal affairs James Baba explained to Parliament that Uganda had signed a memorandum of understanding between the African union and United Nations which requires Uganda to deploy its police forces to war ravaged foreign countries for peace keeping.

“Under the bi-lateral arrangements, the government has the mandate to send its forces to foreign countries that are at war for peace keeping,” added deputy attorney general Fred Ruhindi.

About the $200 deducted from deployed police officers, Internal affairs minister, Gen Aronda Nyakairima, said the money is dedicated in order to facilitate rotational of contingents in Somalia.

Gen Aronda also supported the proposed law saying it can be examined by reviewing some of the prayers in the motion.

Uganda has been commended by the world as one of the African union countries that have contributed generously by deploying its officers in Somalia for peace keeping.

Recently, Uganda also sent its troops to south Sudan to help stabilize peace during the civil war between the dinkas and the nuers.