By Speaking at the 27th Police Council’s inaugural ceremony in Naguru, Gen Kahinda Otafiire the Minister for Internal Affairs, stated that it was past time for him to take decisive action to guarantee that law enforcement, jail, and immigration officials have proper housing to carry out their duties.
“We are tired of having police officers sleeping in shameful conditions. A healthy mind is in a healthy body. This police officer who works at Jinja Road and sleeps in Bweyogerere villages! How do you expect a police officer to come on time and go home on time with traffic and the little money we give them,” Otafiire questioned.
Gen Otafiire, has given the housing projects for the police, immigration, and prisons three months to begin, failing to do so he will take action against those in charge.
“For more than a year, I have been talking about building houses for the police officers, prisons, and immigration officers and my people inter-service committee for housing has been going around in circles like a dog chasing its tail.” Otafiire said.
“The little thing we can do to supplement their small income is to make sure they are close to their work stations and if the barracks are far, we give them transport to work and back home. That’s how we shall ease the burden of easing for police officers. The same thing goes for prisons and immigration.” He added
The total Police Force strength currently stands at 52,000 and according to the UHRC report, out of the total 1,921 police stations and posts in Uganda, 437 are housed in rented premises, 728 in local government structures, 551 in community-housed facilities, 245 in NGO structures, and 455 in Uganda Police Force-owned structures.
It is also worth noting that police recently opened 420 new apartments for officers at Naguru police headquarters but these are just a drop in the ocean.
