Amuru Residents Blame Police for Laxity

Police officers in Amuru district have been accused of laxity while responding to crimes reported.

Richard Komakech, the Amuru Town Council Urban LC III Chairperson says that police have been too slow to respond to crimes citing among others recent shop break-ins and livestock thefts.  

Apollo Okello Kaggwa, the Amuru Sub County LCV Councillor says that various police stations are short of manpower while some police officers are ageing and can’t handle the fast pace work.

Last week, residents of Lamogi Sub County petitioned the Regional Police Commander – RPC Ezekiel Emitu over the laxity and misconduct of his juniors. This prompted Emitu to conduct community policing in the area and gave 30 day-ultimatum to improve on their work.

Aswa river region police Spokesperson Jimmy Patrick Okema however, admitted that police hierarchies discovered numerous gaps and weaknesses depicted by Amuru police personnel during the community policing program.  

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Okema attributed the officers’ laxity to the break-in of the Amuru Electoral Commission – EC office located at Katikati village, Lacor parish in Lamogi Sub County where thugs looted office equipment. 

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 Among those apprehended included Special Police Constable Moses Mutabingwa who was charged for negligence. However, Okema blames the burglary on single deployment, a security loophole often times exploited by criminals.

Other suspects arrested in connection with the incident include Otim Joel Ojok, 32, an Office Attendant, Kidega Godfrey Sunday, a student and Dear Olga Okudra, 38, an Election Assistant.

 Public trust in police personnel has continued to slip largely because a section of the officers engage in subversive activities that are contrary to the law and code of ethics of the force.

The Uganda Police Force - UPF derives its powers and mandate from the 1995 Constitution under article 211, 212 and the Police Act. Its primary role is to protect life and property; preserve law and order, prevent and detect crimes as well to cooperate with civilian authority and other security organs.