Although Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, said he was yet to receive latest information about the recruit exercise from police’s director for human resource development, a police source at Naguru police headquarters intimated to Uganda Radio Network –URN that the successful candidates will start their one-year course on December 12th.
Police recruits during marching on passout
At least
7000 men and women have reportedly passed police recruitment interviews.
The
interviews that begun last month had 17,378 applicants interested
in occupying the 5,000 vacancies to become Probation Police Constables.
Although
Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, said he was yet to receive latest information
about the recruit exercise from police’s director for human resource
development, a police source at Naguru police headquarters intimated to Uganda
Radio Network – URN that the successful candidates will start their one-year course
on December 12th.
“The
recruitment exercise was concluded two days ago and the message to the
successful candidates is going to be sent out before this week ends. More than 7,000
passed the interviews but only 5,000 are being considered first,” said the police source.
The Inspector
General of Police, Martin Ochola, announced 5,000 available vacancies for PPC
mid this year and the application period ended on September 19. Police explained
that the highest number of applicants came from East Kyoga (Soroti), followed
by North Kyoga (Lira), West Nile (Arua) and Bukedi (Tororo).
“The lowest
number of applicants came from Moroto, Katonga (Mpigi), Savanna
(Luweero) and Wamala (Mityana). A competent recruitment team has commenced
the selection process and we expect the best eligible candidates with very high
standards to be selected,” said Enanga in October.
A team of
police officers was set up at various police regions where all the applicants
were subjected to written and oral interviews purposely to demonstrate their personal
abilities which are paramount to being a competent policeman or woman.
Among other merits
and traits police considered during oral and written interviews include personal
integrity, effective communication skills, personal effectiveness, proven level
of physical fitness, a realistic appreciation of the roles and duties of a
police officer, problem solving skills and a strong desire for personal
development.
A police
source said more than 2000 candidates who have passed interviews will be put on
waiting list to replace those who might develop health complications, escape
from training or have mismatches in their medical, recommendation and academic
documents.
“Last intake
we took 5,000 but half of them were over the age. We had to recruit more 2500
and we adjusted the age for those who were energetic and had already started training,”
the source said.
A setback
was faced during the last intake which was passed out barely three months ago
with more than 50 percent of PPCs and LAIPs were above the required age. Police
had put the entry age for PPCs to 18 and 22 while the age cap for Learner
Assistant Inspectors of Police –AIPs was 22 to 25.
However, IGP Ochola after
learning that half the number of recruits was above the age, he re-advertise
more than 2000 vacancies and adjusted the age cap of PPCs was uplifted from 22
to 25 and AIPs from 22 to 28.
Senior Staff Reporter
Joseph Kato is currently a Master's candidate at Makerere University. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communication from Kampala International University, a Diploma in Journalism and he's also a graduate in Guidance and Counseling.