KAMPALA: Recently-appointed Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander Moses Kafeero, has advised officers to avoid incidences brutality on members of the public, urging the need to promote ethics and morals in the Police Force.
According to Kafeero, while most officers care about their communities and hold life to utmost importance, a few, he described as rotten apples have messed the image of the Force.
Failure to follow such simple given instructions, CP Kafeero warned officers on harsh repercussions especially in regards to matters of brutality.
Brutality, Kafeero said it is always characterized by abuse of authority, unwarranted infliction of excessive force by personnel involved in law enforcement while performing their official duties.
Kafeero, who replaced CP Frank Mwesigwa, in the recently reshuffle, told few Police men that they shouldn’t only dwell on solving huge concerns but even those that seem negligent before the public, arguing that they impact greatly on the image of the force.
Rampant evictions
The Kampala Police boss emphasized the need for Police men to acquaint themselves, regardless of their ranks, with various provisions of the law other than dwelling on the Penal Code Act only.
The Commandant further guided the area commanders on key factors causing disharmony among the public which include evictions.
There are rampant evictions in the country, championed by the rich against the poor. In most cases, the Police men have been seen to be on the side of the rich, who are merciless evicting the poor.
Kafeero said a proper eviction process, should have a genuine court order, and the need to bring all stake holders on board for example LC1 & DISO for the interest of public order.
He reminded the officers that their role in matters of eviction is to only witness that the eviction is carried out lawfully and in case there is another court order challenging the eviction or anticipation of violence, the officer in charge should call off the eviction.
Kidnaps
On the increased cases of kidnaps around the country, Kafeero emphasized the need to increase public awareness and sensitization so as to understand the underlying causes in order to uproot the vice.
In just this month of February, Saturday Monitor has documented six people who their families reported kidnapped.
According to the Police report of 2017, 24 cases of kidnap were reported to the police.
Of these cases, one person was found dead, 15 were rescued alive while eight are still missing.
The report said 27 suspects were arrested by Police Flying Squad Unit, 16 were charged in courts of law and 11 are under inquiry.
