{UAH} Uganda Police Abandon Tear Gas & AK47 - For Fishing Nets -

Although Ngora District Criminal Intelligence and Investigations officer James Okodel does not have the statistics of his officers in the fishing business, he confirmed receiving information that many of them have resorted to fishing. "I have also heard that some of our officers are now fishing, but it is better to do that, than engage in extorting money from the public," Mr Okodel said.

 

The biggest question is whether an officer can spend the whole night fishing and manage to execute his police duties the next day. Police officers did not receive last month's salary due to a shortfall in the Budget. Since the year began, officers and other civil servants have been facing the same situation.

 

Life for officers is now hard. Some are increasingly facing temptation to engage in either corruption, or focus more on their personal businesses other than police work, something described as 99 among officers.

 

In Masaka District, Ms Aisha Nankinga, a police officer attached to Masaka Police Family Protection Unit, said she weaves at the police station when there are no cases to handle. "I have a weaving machine at the station and when I make sweaters during my free time, I sell them and get money to look after my family in case the salary delays,"

Ms Nankinga said. Another police constable, Mr Kasim Muguluma, transports passengers on his boda boda motorcycle after work to supplement his meagre salary.

 

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Unpaid-police-officers-turn-to-fishing--boda-boda-for-survival/-/688334/1917154/-/sgya1x/-/index.html