Police officer says the force recruits “some criminals”

A senior Police officer has said that the force has been recruiting criminal elements but blamed local leaders for endorsing them from various communities. 

Assistant Superintendent of Police Paul Wataka, the Acting Police Commander for Aswa Region told this reporter in an interview that the police institution is battling with indiscipline of officers who are wrongly endorsed into the forces.

The Acting RPC of Aswa region noted that at the recruitment level, local leaders tend to recommend some criminals from the community whose characters are difficult to tame in the training. 

 This according to Jimmy Patrick Okema, the Aswa Regional Police Spokesperson, if it continues the force’s discipline will remains at stake. 

Denis Acellam, the LC1 of Layibi Godown in Bar-Dege Layibi Division in Gulu City however says the recommendations they give at the time of recruitments is based on merit and good conduct.

Police is ranked the most corrupt institution in the country in a joint report by the Inspectorate general of government and Uganda national bureau of statistics in 2019/2020 report.

However, according to Okema, the nature of work police does exposes the forces to temptation of corruption but noted that some of the public funds being swindled by government officials are hard to discuss.

At least 6 police countable in Elego Town Council from Amuru District were last year accused of assaulting 27 women suspected to be sex workers. 

In another development, Assistant Superintendent of Police Julius Mpande, the OC Operation for Kitgum District was arrested in March for dealing in illegal logging. 

URN