POLICE NEEDS UGX 1.2 TRILLION FOR OPERATIONS

By; Francis Lubeba

The inspector General of Police Gen Kale Kayihura has surprised parliament to say that he was also shocked to learn of the release of the notorious criminal Paddy Serunjogi aka Sobi who was arrested on Monday over his alleged involvement in criminal activities.

Gen. Kayihura says he learnt of Sobi’s release the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) but also wondered how a person convicted of murder could be out engaging the media.

He denied having any relationship with Abdu Kitatta who heads the Boda Boda 2010 but police uses bodabada leaders to fight criminality in the industry.

General Kayihura was appearing before the parliamentary committee on defense and Internal Affairs, for question and present their budgetary requirement in the next financial year.

The Force requires UGX 1.2 trillion to curb crimes, increase capacity of police officers and to improve its public image.

The Undersecretary of the police force Rogers Muhirwa says the allocation of UGX 514 billion with a shortfall of UGX 721 billion will impede the police services especially operational activities.

These include utility arrears worth amounting to UGX 34 billion for 9,000 personnel that stands at a shortfall of over UGX 7 billion and the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence that has been allocated UGX 9 billion yet it requires UGX 114 billion that means the CIID will only investigate and conclude 3% of the 50,000 estimated capital cases recorded annually.

The director for finance Edward Ochom says that the police force has so far realized reduction in crime rates in the past three years from 298 cases committed in 1,000 people in 2014/15 to 292 crimes in 2016/17 and hope to achieve a target of 200 crimes in 2020/21.