Police should first assess their own internal weaknesses before blaming the public for being hostile to them, Internal Affairs minister Gen Jeje Odongo has said.
Speaking at the opening of the police council meeting Kigo, Wakiso District, on Monday, said whereas the police is concerned about the negative publicity, it should first focus on the behaviour of its officers.
“It is true that every time you read [news]papers, it is only negative stories being written about police. We need to ask ourselves on why we are only being cited in negative stories. We need to address issues that could be giving us that negative image,” Gen Odongo said.
Earlier, Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, had said police was under attack by propagandists.
“Every day you read stories as if there is nothing good police does in this country,” he said.
But Gen Odongo said: “I would love that we find time to review what has brought us to this level, we need to discuss pertinent issues affecting police, self-criticism and I suggest that we should have no attribution thereafter.”
Senior police officers have been implicated in crimes such as murder, unlawful arrests, extortion and robbery.
Several senior officers such as Joel Aguma (former professional standards unit commander) and former Special Operation Unit commander Nixon Agasirwe are facing trial before the court martial over charges of treason.
