RESPECT FOR RULE OF LAW STILL WANTING IN UGANDA Over the years, community policing initiative has taken center stage in the Uganda police force’s fight to prevent and detect crime, ensure public order and protect life and property. Uganda is 241,139 square kilometers wide and has as of today, a total number of 132 districts. The different districts all indeed have varying security needs and these determine the nature of policing implemented there. A district police commander (DPC) is the head of police operations in the district while the regional police commander (RPC) is the overall head of policing within his/her region. At the apex of policing is the Inspector General of Police who today is General Kale Kayihura. Basing on the above, it is obvious that the DPC is a commander with personnel to be mobilized (organized) in ensuring that ultimate policing is done, working together with the public generally, civil authorities, other security agencies and the resident district commissioner (RDC), who is the representative of the president in the district and the head of security. The RPC is mandated to mobilize the DPCs in his jurisdiction to make partnerships in the communities that will ultimately bring about a reduction in crime rates and therefore, in due course a crime free society. Fast forward, recently, there were remarks by one opinion leader in different media of how he could not imagine the police arresting his subjects, and may be even himself on suspicion that they knew one or two things that could have resulted into the recent attacks on civilians and security personnel in western Uganda, where 93 people were killed, 20 guns were stolen, 15 so far recovered, 5 still missing, 14 jerricans of petrol, 20 pangas and 100 brand new knives, spears and other items have already been recovered. Shame and shame, these opinion leaders are meant to offer support to the police in ensuring fast and thorough investigation of such and similar crimes is done to protect their own, and other people from such inhumanity. In so doing, they help themselves and the police in fulfilling their mandate for security. Over the years, again, a lot of highly regarded people in society have been summoned for interrogation while others have been arrested by the police to explain away some of the allegations levied against them at different police units. Those who were more than willing to co-operate with the police found it a useful procedure, and so did those who had to be arrested first, because in any case, if there is an allegation of a criminal nature brought to police against anyone, it is crucial that that person records a statement to that effect before the file is submitted to other players, such as the office of the state attorney for sanctioning and/or father technical advice on management. Therefore, it becomes rather wanting that some people assume that they are above the law and that police must first seek their permission before they are arrested or before those in their employment can be arrested. As a quick reminder, nobody is above the law in Uganda, except for the sitting head of the state who may not be arrested during his term of office. The police force would be more grateful if these leaders then promoted among their followers a spirit of lawfulness than lawlessness, which could again trigger off emotional sentiments resulting into more tribal clashes as witnessed in Kasese and Bundibujo just this month. As Ugandans, we all could do better to enhance respect for the rule of law in ourselves, our families and societies. Polly Namaye Ag. ACP Press and Public Relations Deputy PRO 14-07-2014
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 16:17:24 +0000
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