{UAH} Sacking me won't stop crime - Kayihura

Sacking me won't stop crime - Kayihura

• September 18, 2017
• Written by Sadab Kitatta Kaaya

In the wake of increased criticism of his work methods, Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura has said sacking him will not stop the rise in crime around the country.

In an hour-long address to local government leaders at their 23rd annual general meeting held on Saturday in Mubende, Gen Kayihura said he was fed up with the relentless criticism of the police.

Under his watch, the police stands accused of operating as a militia -- protecting the NRM regime by unleashing unprovoked violence on its opponents instead of serving and protecting the community – which is its primary mandate.

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Kayihura referred to a meeting President Museveni recently held with police commanders from the central region over the spate of murders.

"The president was criticising us that we have failed to stamp out crime... If we are to prevent crime, we must address the root causes of crime in society," Kayihura said at St Peter's Technical Institute Mubende.

"It has now become fashionable to criticise the police in Parliament instead of highlighting the actual problems and strategise on how to solve them," he said.

Next, he obliquely drew attention to his clash with Security minister Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde over the Entebbe and Nansana women killings.

"These songs of police this, police that...Kayihura alemeddwa [has failed]. People, okay, Kayihura can be sent to Luzira but I tell you, if you don't address the problems in society, even if you put [appoint] I don't know who, [but] whoever you put there, the problems of crime will not be solved," he said.

Kayihura and Tumukunde were recently on a collision path with both bush war notables running parallel investigations into the unexplained murders of women in Nansana and Entebbe.

He said his interactions with criminal gangs (kifeesi) and prostitutes in both areas have revealed that many of them were driven into crime by unemployment.

The police chief called out the ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development for failing to reach out to unemployed youth groups. He cited an example of a sex worker who told him that she was forced to use her "God-given capital" after failing to fend for her two children.

Yes, police is accountable to Ugandans, but local leaders should stop complaining before the president about the corruption in the force, he said.

"Instead of waiting for the president to complain, why don't you arrest those corrupt police officers?" Kayihura wondered amidst murmurs. "You have a constitutional mandate as leaders; discipline any corrupt characters in the police instead of complaining. If you are [doubtful], I have given you the authority as IGP," Kayihura said.

Similarly, Kayihura said he is tired of persistent reports ranking police as the most corrupt and leading abuser of human rights.

Police is partnering the Uganda Local Governments Association and cultural leaders to strengthen the monitoring of the police personnel, he revealed.

Uganda's top cop also spoke in defence of crime preventers who have been accused of several violations.

"Now, a person like [former prime minister] Amama Mbabazi who is a knowledgeable, highly respected legal scholar and a great leader...how could he go to the Supreme court and claim that crime preventers are a Kayihura militia?" he asked.

"You can see how someone can get corrupted by politics. Really, someone like [Mbabazi] who has got a great history of the revolutionary struggle degenerates because he wants power," he said.

Despite their shortcomings, the IGP said he is still convinced that crime preventers help police to deal with crime. Kayihura said the police will buy more motorcycles such that each parish receives at least two for police patrols. He also revealed that the government is in advanced stages of acquiring CCTV cameras.

"We are in advanced stages of procuring a national CCTV camera system; it is a project that the president is micromanaging because we want something good and implemented fast because if he is to leave it to some people, it can be mishandled," Kayihura said.

Once installed, Kayihura said, the entire country will be monitored from a single point in Kampala. He, therefore, cautioned local governments against installing security systems without involving government security agencies.

sadabkk@observer.ug

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