100 police officers under probe for abetting crime

Commandant of Professional Standards Unit Mr Fortunate Habyara. File photo 

KAMPALA. Police Monday said more than 100 officers are under investigation for alleged involvement in criminal activities.
Mr Fortunate Habyara, the Commandant of Professional Standards Unit (PSU) said the officers under probe reportedly connive with criminal gangs that terrorise people in the Kampala metropolitan and its surrounding areas.
“Some of these officers are in cells whereas others are still at large but under investigation. The suspects are being examined for allegedly aiding criminal activities such as robbery, theft, bribery and extortion,” Mr Habyara said while speaking to media at police headquarters in Naguru.
In the report released by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), last week, on National Service Delivery Survey, the police came on top among the most corrupt government institutions.

In April Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Steven Mugarura, released a report on rising city robberies where he pinned police bosses Assistant Inspector General of Police Grace Turyagumanawe, the director Peace and support directorate, AIGP Edward Ochom the director research and planning and Assistant Commissioner of Police Jimmy Katonyerera the commandant Police standards unit (PSU).
However, the Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, threatened to arrest him claiming he had breached the force’s communication procedures by releasing the report to the media before briefing his immediate supervisors. To date, Mugarura has been among the officers needed for interrogation and has since deserted his office.

Mr Fred Yiga, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP), also in charge of United Nations Mission, warned that the national security was at stake if the security agencies do not act swiftly on the increasing criminal gangs in the country.
“Criminal gangs are a time bomb for national security. We need to reinforce our internal policing systems. This, we need to do swiftly before criminals take over the country,” he said.
Mr Yiga said the police was to emphasize on stringent action being taken on crime abettors within the police force and other government and private security agencies.

Last month, the police’s Flying Squad Unit (FSU) arrested a Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) soldier and his five abettors suspected to have been raiding city residents gunpoint.
Patrick Onyango, Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson, revealed that the suspects were using an AK 47 which they had grabbed from a police officer.

Asked on why the police do not take any action on civilians like Abdullah Kitata the founder of Bodaboda 2010 famously known for fighting fellow bodaboda riders, Ali Kirume aka Gearbox and one Kiyimba, Mr Yiga said: “It would a bad note to say that those people execute their operations on behalf of the IGP. It should not start as a blame game. We assure the public that no civilian should give orders on behalf of the police.”
Mr Habyara said he had held meetings with more than 400 members of the prominent Kifesi crew that terrorise Kampala people in rush hours of morning and evening.
He added that the IGP and Makindye Mayor Ali Mulyanyama have agreed working together to help the youth get jobs.
“We spoke to these youth and they were ready to abandon criminal activities. However, they need jobs. Some are trained in mechanics, wielding and saloon but they lack capital. The IGP and Makindye mayor have promised to help them,” Mr Habyara said.

Last week, Mr Fred Enanga, the police spokesman, admitted that gate robberies are on rise in the suburbs and outskirts of Kampala. The most deadly gate theft spots highlighted by the police include Najjera, Kigoowa, Kulambiro, Kisasi, Bahai and also Kibuye-Ggaba, Lukuli-Nanganda and Namasuba Upper hill.
There over 13 criminal gangs operating in Kampala and areas of Mukono, Wakiso, Entebbe and Mpigi which include Kifesi, B13, Kibanda, ECOMOG, UN among others.