UPDF, Police On Spot for Exploiting Residents During Patrol
Uganda People Defense Forcer soldiers and police personal in Gulu are being accused of extortion and harassing residents during night patrol.
Last month, the Gulu district security committee decided to tighten security following a spate of armed robberies in the town.As a result, UPDF officers were deployed to back up the police during night patrol.
However, weeks after the deployment, residents are accusing the soldiers and police of extortion and harassment.
Jimmy Orach, a boda boda motorist in Gulu town says that he was robbed of 46,000 shillings by policemen on patrol last week.He says despite the fact that he had all the requirements and his motorbike was in perfect condition, the officers forcefully grabbed his money.
Orach however says that he didn’t report a case because he is well aware that the suspects will not refund his money.
Orach is just one of the victims of the exploitation by the security officers.Patrick Jimmy Okema, the Aswa regional spokesperson says they have recorded various complaints from residents in the past two weeks about the joint patrol teams.
Okema says that they have recovered a mobile phone that was grabbed by a cop from a resident during patrol.
He says the cop will be arraigned before the security committee to face disciplinary action.Okema has asked all the other victims to come out and report their complaints to police or the Police Professional Standards Unit so that the implicated officers can be brought to book.
Catherine Lamwaka, the Gulu RDC says they will take disciplinary action against all the implicated officers.She cautions the officers against exploiting residents and encourages them to concentrate on protecting them and their property.
According to the police 11 suspects have been arrested, three guns and two motor bikes recovered within a space of two weeks.
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Police and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) exploit
night patrol operations to extort money through harassing non criminal arrested
on grounds on walking at night.
They arrest pedestrians despite the dress-code revealing
that the caught are from night clubs or going to night clubs, thereafter ask
money as barter for their release. They would have disguised themselves, hide if
truly these government officials’s aim was to catch criminals. Instead sit on
the patrol vehicle and drive around, those of foot patrol walk visible alerting
the criminals to escape from catching. Those who don’t run or hide are
pedestrians who believe that these officials are not after them but rather
after the obvious dressed vagabonds, dressed in dark clothes.
Police and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) exploit night patrol operations to extort money through harassing non criminal arrested on grounds on walking at night.
They arrest pedestrians despite the dress-code revealing that the caught are from night clubs or going to night clubs, thereafter ask money as barter for their release. They would have disguised themselves, hide if truly these government officials’s aim was to catch criminals. Instead sit on the patrol vehicle and drive around, those of foot patrol walk visible alerting the criminals to escape from catching. Those who don’t run or hide are pedestrians who believe that these officials are not after them but rather
after the obvious dressed vagabonds, dressed in dark clothes. Our court systems promote miscarriage of justice because send (remand) the accused to Luzira without a bail hearing being heard when the accused is presented before a magistrate.