Evicted Cops Occupy Sembabule Health Centre

Six policemen who were evicted in Sembabule district over accumulated rental arrears, have relocated to Kyabi health center III. The cops were evicted last month from a building they were occupying in Kyaabi trading center by Yasin Sekalaala over failure to pay 5 million shillings. Sekalaala says that the he decided to evict the cops after getting endless promises from Kale Kyihura, the Inspector General of Police to clear rent in vain. He says that he signed an agreement with Uganda Police force to accommodate Kyabi Police Post in his 14-roomed building at 2.5 million each year. According to Sekalaala police promised to pay him at the end of the year but since 2009 no payment has been made.

Now, the evicted cops led by Ddemba Kamya, the Officer in Charge of Kyaabi police post have now relocated to Kyabi Health Center III. The six cops share the Out Patients Department at Kyaabi health Centre with patients. Robert Walugembe, the Sembabule District Police Commander, says that they have decided to get a room at Kyabi Health centre III to accommodate the officers as they carry out their duties. He says despite the fact that the room is small; it will be used to accommodate the police post. He says that suspects picked up by the cops will be transferred to Ssembabule police station after recording their statements. Walugembe says that the area is prune to murder cases resulting from land wrangle, adding that police cannot just abandon it.

He says that most of the police posts are operating under tension because of rental arrears. He says that they have started sensitizing the communities to donate free land to the force to construct its own buildings to avoid paying rent, yet they don’t have the money. Some of the Cops interviewed by URN on condition of anonymity for fear of being reprimanded by their superiors say they are living under poor condition as they lack privacy. The Southern Region Police PRO Noah Sserunjoji says they have notified the police headquarters about the eviction.