Assistant Inspector General of Police –AIGP Dr Moses Byaruhanga, also director police medical services, confirmed to Uganda Radio Network –URN that indeed the complaints are being received and a probe is underway.
The Inspector-General of Police Martin Ochola has ordered for investigations
into allegations of police officers swindling covid-19 allowances for junior officers.
The Chief of Joint Security Major General Jack Bakasumba, last week released
close to 3 billion shillings for both senior and junior police officers
incorporated in the Covid-19 National Task Force and Joint Security Task Force.
The money was for 25,977 police officers who have
been performing various roles.
Gen Bakasumba’s letter indicated that each senior officer was to
receive 120,000 shillings while junior policemen and policewomen were supposed
to receive 110,000 shillings each.
Gen Bakashumba explained that the money had been sent to the respective
stations where the officers are attached. Besides, he indicated that it had
been distributed according to the number of police officers attached to task
forces from every station.
Three days after the money had been disbursed, police officers complained that
they had been ordered to sign for 50,000 shillings while others were told to
sign for 70,000 shillings.
A source revealed that by the end of last week the number of complaints had
reached 700 but it jumped to more than 1000 by Wednesday this week.
“Several officers are complaining that they are being told to sign
half of what they are supposed to get. Others say they haven’t received the
money yet it is more than a week since the allowances were delivered at various
stations. This is why IGP has ordered for an impromptu probe by PSU,” a source
revealed.
Dr Moses Byaruhanga, the Director Police medical services, says that have
received several complaints and a probe is underway.
Professional Standards Unit is commanded by Assistant Commissioner of Police
-ACP Sarah Kibwika. AIGP Byaruhanga whose 428 health workers are involved in
the national task force warned that action will be taken against Division and
District police commanders for swindling the allowances.
//cue in “the professional standards unit…
Cue out “…distribute those items”//
Uganda police force received a supplementary budget of 37 billion shillings to
cater for Covid19 expenses which include allowances for police officers,
procuring gloves, fuel, food and masks.
Even though the latest figures indicate police force’s numbers at
41,760, Gen Bakasumba released allowances for only 25,977 people.
According to Gen Bakasumba’s statement, some of the police units show all their
officers incorporated in the joint security task force. For instance,
Counter-Terrorism’s entire force of 4,483 was involved in COVID-19 operations,
followed by Anti-Stock Theft Unit – ASTU with 1,150 officers, 999 Patrol Unit
with 289 and Air Wing with 36 personnel.
Counter-terrorism took the biggest share of the allowances with 496.9 million
shillings, Kampala North region with 193.9 million shillings, Rwenzori East region
146.5 million shillings, ASTU with 126.7 million shillings, while Greater
Masaka region took 120 million shillings.
Mr Joseph Kato graduated with a Master's Degree of Art in Journalism & Communication on February 02, 2024 at Makerere University. He holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Journalism and Media Studies which he attained in 2023 at Oslo Metropolitan University in Norway.
Mr Kato holds a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communication from Kampala International University. The Master's Degree studies and a decade of journalism practice have enabled Mr Kato to be one of the reliable researchers in areas of conflict, r
