Parliament to address Police welfare concerns following UHRC report

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has urged the government to address the persistent welfare concerns of the police in Uganda in order to build an effective criminal justice system.

Upon receiving a research report conducted by the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) on the working and living conditions of police personnel, the Deputy Speaker said that an under-resourced police force diminishes the capacity of personnel to prevent and investigate crime.

“If we are to reform the Justice, Law, and Order Sector, and enhance the criminal justice system in this country, we can’t merely appoint more judges; we need to address the needs of all stakeholders. Initially, we focused on appointing judges, but there was a gap in prosecutors. Last financial year, we addressed this by exempting prosecutors’ salaries from taxes, which significantly boosted the prosecution side. Now, it’s imperative to address the investigation side,” stated the Deputy Speaker on Thursday, February 8, 2024.

He added, “The prosecutor relies on the investigator, and the judge relies on the prosecutor. Thus, for a well-functioning Criminal Justice, Law, and Order system, we must ensure there are no mismatches in attention and resources between sectors.”

The Deputy Speaker assured that Parliament would meticulously review the report to address the issues and recommendations put forth by the Uganda Human Rights Commission.

Furthermore, he urged police personnel to utilize government incentives, including duty-free cement and iron sheets, to build their retirement homes, reminding them that the government will not provide retirement homes.

Mr. Tayebwa commended the security forces for their tremendous efforts in safeguarding the country’s borders and maintaining law and order despite unfavorable conditions.

He emphasized, “This demonstrates a spirit of nationalism, but it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t demand better working conditions. I want to express gratitude because despite the inadequate housing, they continue to work tirelessly.”

Regarding the research’s findings, Ms. Mariam Wangadya, Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, highlighted the dire living and working conditions of Uganda Police Force (UPF) personnel, including dilapidated institutional accommodations and unfair deployment practices.

The report revealed high levels of unfairness in deployments, transfers, and promotions, attributed to corrupt practices such as favoritism, tribalism, and bribery.

Ms. Wangadya urged Parliament to increase budgetary allocations to the Uganda Police Force to improve working and living conditions, facilitate proper conduct of work, and ensure the protection of human rights.

She emphasized the need for support from all stakeholders to promote accountability, end impunity for human rights violations, empower police personnel to comply with human rights standards, and sanction offenders accordingly.