Police Embarks on Sensitization of Sub County Policing Model Amidst Low Morale

BY SPURB ERNEST

As part of the deployment process, police directors and other senior officers mostly from the directorates of Chief Police Commissariat, Field Force Unit, Operations Service and Counter-Terrorism are currently conducting preparation meetings for personnel in their respective jurisdict

Police leadership has embarked on sensitization of its officers amidst low morale regarding President Yoweri Museveni’s Sub-county policing model. Four weeks ago, the Inspector General of Police, Abas Byakagaba, announced that the implementation of the Sub-county model was to be spearheaded by Commissioner Mai Ogwal.

However, it has since been established that many officers have not welcomed the model, which will largely keep them in remote areas compared to the current system where they have been stationed in urban areas.  

As part of the deployment process, police directors and other senior officers, mostly from the directorates of Chief Police Commissariat, Field Force Unit, Operations Service, and Counter-Terrorism, are currently conducting preparation meetings for personnel in their respective jurisdictions. 

Assistant Inspector General of Police- AIGP Ubaldo Bamunoba, the Chief Political Commissar (CPC), has said the implementation of the Sub-county model starts with officers’ mindset change. 

According to AIGP Bamunoba, the policing model wouldn’t be effective if the officers do not recognize the force’s simple ideology, which is to serve the citizens of Uganda.

“You need to know the importance of community-based policing. You must know that the police ideology is to serve the citizens of Uganda. To achieve this, you must understand the people you serve and how to serve them effectively,” AIGP Bamunoba said.

CT Director, AIGP David Wasswa Ssengendo, has also prepared the counter-terrorism personnel, emphasizing that the Sub-county model will yield results only if every police officer positively embraces it.

Wasswa said the baraza he organized with counter-terrorism officers focuses on improving the mindset and morale. “This session is aimed to encourage you to embrace the initiative positively, rather than focusing on its challenges. You must show the importance of this model, and you must create awareness to the community,” AIGP Wasswa said.

Museveni directed that police should be concentrated at Sub-counties because the majority were being deployed in urban areas, leaving rural areas to suffer in the hands of criminals. With the Sub-county policing model, each station will have 18 police officers who include FFU, detective, scene of crime officer, traffic officer, and Officer in Charge (OC).

So far, the implementation of the Sub-county policing model has started in other regions greater Masaka, Wamala and Katonga. Senior officers headed by CP Ogwal, CP Anatoli Muleterwa and CP Simon Peter Okoshi are traversing various regions, ensuring that everything needed for implementation of the Sub-county policing model is in place.    

“We urged you to adopt the model with passion and dedication, recognizing its potential to enhance community security and policing efficiency. This initiative seeks to strengthen cooperation between law enforcement and local communities, ensuring a more proactive approach to crime prevention,” AIGP Wasswa said.

However, the policing model has left many divisions in Kampala with almost half of the personnel they have been having. A fortnight ago, IGP Byakagaba made a night impromptu visit to Central Police Station –CPS Kampala where he was shocked to find only one policeman on the quarter guard.

IGP Byakagaba inquired from the commanders, who informed him that most of the police officers had been moved as part of the Sub-county policing model. Police leadership has reportedly started recalling some of the personnel who had been taken out of Kampala. 

Over 13,000 police officers have been working and residing in Kampala Metropolitan which covers divisions of Kakiri, CPS, Jinja Road, Naggalama, Mukono, Kawempe, Old Kampala, Wandegeya, Kajjansi, Katwe, Nsangi, Wakiso, Kabalagala, Nansana, Kira Division, Nateete, Kira Road, Entebbe, and Kasangati. 

CP Muleterwa and CP Okoshi have launched the Sub-county model in Katonga, where they explained to the communities that it will bring police services closer to the,m which will enhance security and support key government programs.