Uganda police have confirmed the dismissal of up to 153 officers, citing misconduct and breach of ethical standards.
A statement released on Monday confirms that up to 153 Uganda police officers were dismissed due to misconduct and flagrant violation of ethical standards.
According to Fred Enanga the police spokesperson, the dismissal was made by the Police Disciplinary Complaints system. He said many other officers are also pending dismissal after they were found to be in breach of standards.
“The Disciplinary Complaints against Senior Officers and all officers charged in the criminal courts of law, are dealt with by the Police Authority, chaired by all the Hon. Minister for Internal Affairs, while disciplinary complaints against subordinate officers, are dealt with by the Police Council, chaired by the IGP,” Enanga said.
He, in addition, revealed that all disciplinary actions in the police range from among others a caution, severe reprimand, written warnings, discharge, demotion or reduction in rank, stopping or withholding or deferment of salary increase, fine, recovery of the cost or part of it, imprisonment in police custody, confinement to residence or barracks, communal labour and dismissal.
The police spokesperson explained that decisions on each of the above penalties are determined by the disciplinary courts led by competent panels from the respective unit or territorial disciplinary unit to the court of Appeal, at police headquarters.
“The respective panels therefore, investigated the serious allegations of Professional misconduct across the country and decided, the appropriate sanction for the 153 officers was dismissal and discharge respectively,” Enanga explained.
“In the first category, a total of 73 officers, were dismissed between 2015 and 2019, following internal disciplinary actions. 41 were absent from duty without official leave, C/S 44(1) code 20b; 06, were charged with discreditable or irregular conduct C/S 44(1) code 12b; 05 were dismissed for neglect of duty, C/S 44(1) code 19(c); 12 on grounds of Scandalous manner c/s 44(1), code 14(1) and (2); 01 for causing loss to Government Property c/s44(1) code 7 and 28; 03 for drunkardness c/s 44(1) code 13, 02 for withdrawal from duty o1 for damage to clothing or Articles supplied for duty c/s 44(1) code 26a and 02 for disobedience of lawful orders.”
For the second and third categories of officers, Enanga disclosed that many of them are awaiting their formal letters of dismissal for engaging in acts related to corruption, neglect of duty and drunkards among others.
“The second category is of personnel pending formal dismissal by the Police Council Appointments/Promotions Committee. Under this category 18 surbodinate officers are awaiting their formal letters of dismissal for scandalous behaviour, corrupt practices, Away without official leave, Neglect of Duty, discreditable or irregular conduct and theft,” Enanga disclosed.
“The third category comprises of officers already charged by the Police Council Appointments/Promotions Committee and charged. Under this category 54 officers, were discharged from the force for being Absent without official leave, neglect of duty, scandalous manner, drunkardness, discreditable or irregular conduct and causing loss to Government.”
Additionally, he said about eight officers are pending formal discharge by the Police Council Appointments/Promotions Committee (Subordinate), for being away without official leave, scandalous manner and drunkenness.
“As a force we expect the highest personal and professional standards of all officers. Therefore, any allegations of behaviour that do not meet the set standards, are rigorously investigated in accordance with the Police Act and Standing orders. All the officers indicated above, had the cases of gross misconduct proven against them, and for that matter cannot continue enforcing the law or using their previous positions of power,” he added.
