Museveni to Police: Be a pro-people force

SECURITY

MASINDI - President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni passed out a total of 4,809 police officers at the Police Training School-Kabalye in Masindi on Friday.

On arrival at the training School, he was received by the commandant of the training school  ACP Abubaker Ziwedde, who briefed him about the courses conducted, including the Learner Assistant Inspectors of Police (L/AIP) and Probationary Police Constables (PPCs) courses.

The commander in chief of the armed forces was later taken through both theory and practical demonstrations that included a terrain model, public order management model and range exercise among others.

"It is now my pleasure to pass out the 485 Assistant Inspectors of Police and the 4,324 Police Constables" Museveni announced amidst jubilations from the graduates. Speaking shortly after the pass out, he congratulated the graduates upon finishing the course and joining the Uganda Police Force.

The President revealed that in 1986, the Police force had diminished in numbers but that after re-organizing it, it has now grown from only 3,000 officers to 46,000 personnel.

"The police population ration is now 800 to 1 but our target is to have 500 to 1. The police is now 46,000 personnel from 3,000 in 1986. This is a big movement in the right direction."

Museveni said that right from the beginning, their aim was not only the numbers, but also the quality of the Police force, which explains the trainings and qualification requirements of the personnel they recruit.

"In 1979 after we took out Idi Amin, we recruited university graduates deliberately in the Police. We said qualification must be part of the requirements. How are you going to write a statement from the criminal if you can't read or write?" he said.

The other element of quality the President underlined is training which the graduates had just gone through.

"We said we must insist on the issue of quality, that's why you are all educated and have trained."

According to the doctrine and ideology of the National Resistance Movement party (NRM), the president said the Uganda Police Force should be a pro-people force, which is there to defend and uphold the dignity of Uganda. 
  
"Your methods should reflect that. When you are beating people, then you are not a pro-people force," he said.

President Museveni said that the Police must be well trained in the use of arms and other means like martial arts, adding that such capabilities should be used according to the standing order of the force.

"You, the Police, should be firm in self-defense and use enough or reasonable force to subdue the criminal. After subduing, you should not again continue to beat them. Your job is to arrest, get evidence and take to court. It's somebody else's responsibility to prosecute not you."

Museveni warned the Police against shouting at people, urging them to instead treat them with respect.

"Don't be rude to people, don't beat somebody who has already been arrested. That's what I mean by a pro-people force," he said.

The other weakness in police, the President said, is corruption. He revealed that many police officers have been taking bribes, especially the traffic police, whom he referred to as "The white angels". He cautioned them not to try to get rich quickly by taking bribes and warned them against soiling the image of the Police.

"There is no need for you to spoil the image of Police. Don't become bad mathematicians; don't try to get rich quickly by taking bribes. You can do very well by being honest."

When dealing with crime, the President said Police should be very serious and that is the only way they will win the confidence of the people by being masters of crime prevention and good managers.

"We have played our part by purchasing security cameras to make your work easy. Please use them seriously to curb crime in society. We shall give you all the necessary support you need."

The President promised to negotiate with squatters on the Police training school's land together with the local chairperson so that they are compensated and leave the training school to utilize their land fully.

The State Minister of Internal affairs, Mario Obiga Kania, who congratulated the President for the wise leadership during this COVID-19 pandemic season, said the passing out of 4,809 officers will reduce the ratio of policing to 1 by 800 from 1 by 900 and revealed that they are aiming at 1 by 500.

"Since you deployed us, you have given us all the necessary support and the results are the recruits we are passing out today," said Obiga.

He advised the graduates to practise professionalism and work with dedication because that is what they expect from them.

The Inspector General of Police, Martin Okoth Ochola, congratulated the graduates upon successfully completing the course and said that the President's endless support and guidance is a strong testimony to building a strong Uganda Police Force.

He told the graduates that policing is a rewarding career but for only the officers who are patient and focused.

"You have joined a noble career. Please be disciplined, patient and focused. The country has invested in you a lot, so please do your work diligently and keep safe," said the Police chief.

The training school's commandant, Abubaker Ziwedde, said that among the 485 trained Assistant Inspectors of Police, 70 are female and among the 4,324 trained constables, 1058 are female.

He said they have trained professionals in ICT, forensics, medical and IOV, aimed at acquainting them with basic skills and knowledge for general policing, command and management.

At the climax of the ceremony, the best students were awarded prizes. The overall best student prize went to Learner AIP Albert Oulanya while the best student in academics award went to Learner AIP Bosco Kinyara.

The other winners included AIP Moses Musala (field activities), AIP Justus Asinguza (leadership), AIP Miriam Makeba and AIP Bosco Katasi Bosco.

This was the 21st Police intake and the training took 10 months.