Luweero Police commander Samuel Bamuzibire has revealed that Police has not received fuel supplies for two weeks. As a result, Police has grounded most of its vehicles and officers on security missions have to use motorbikes. The Police ambulance registration number UP 3181 is similarly grounded due to lack of fuel.
Luweero Police has scaled down on security operations in the district because of lack of fuel, the district Police commander Samuel Bamuzibire has revealed. Bamuzibire says that Luweero Police fuel reserves at Wobulenzi Shell fuelling station are empty.
He also says that Luweero Police Station and its other stations have not received fuel supplies for two weeks now.
As a result, Police has grounded most of its vehicles and officers on security missions have to use motorbikes. The Police ambulance registration number UP 3181 which is supposed to have fuel all times is similarly grounded due to lack of fuel.
In cases where vehicles have to be used, Bamuzibire says that Police is relying on the goodwill of the public to fuel them. Or the officers in charge have to pay out of their own pocket to fuel the cars.
Bamuzibire blames the fuel shortage on the parliament’s delay to approve the Police and National budget of 2012/13 financial year.
However Bamuzibire refused to divulge on details of operations that have been affected and how much they are receiving per month but said they are currently in mess. Bamuzibire says they hope that the situation will normalize after approval and release of funds to the police.
Residents URN has spoken to express concern over the state of affairs.
Samson Lubega, a motorist of Kasiiso stage, alleges that recently they were stuck with dead body of a colleague Bracio Kasule after police officers asked them to contribute money for transportation of the body for post-mortem but they failed.
Another resident of Luweero town council James Mutebi says that lack of fuel may affect the Police’s professionalism and independence because they have to ask for fuel money from people they are supposed to be investigating.
URN Reporter couldn’t get a comment from Police Force headquarters in Kampala.
