Members of the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda question the criteria the president uses to appoint the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP).
In their argument, the Legislators indicate that the Police Act, 2006 has gaps mostly in the criteria the state authority uses to appoint the IGP and the DIGP. The MPs suggest to include clauses (a) and (b) of Section 5 of the Principle Act, in which they state that the person suitable for IGP position, in addition to being an A’level Certificate holder, should have served as a Commissioner or any above position in police. This comes to put to an end the criteria where any person who has served in the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) is given a role to serve in police as an Inspector General of Police or their Deputy.
In the Parliamentary sitting on Friday, July 29th, 2022, the Legislator of Jonam County, Hon. Emmanuel Ongiertho vetted that the public can’t be in good terms with the police headed by an army veteran or general as the IGP. “People just don’t want to see an appointment of IGP and a Deputy IGP coming from the army. They should come from the police,” says Hon. Emmanuel. MPs argue that there should be respect for protocols in security maintenance and peace keeping between army and police and not the army overshadowing the role of the police at the top Leadership.
In the recent years, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s leadership has had two ascending Army Generals appointed as IGP including three deputies. These range from Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala between 2001 and 2005, and Gen. kale Kayihura from 2005 to 2018 who served as IGP with no border line of term limit. The Army Generals who have served as Deputy Inspector General of Police include the Late, Lt. Gen. Paul Lokech, Maj. Gen. Sabiiti Muzeeyi, and Maj. Gen. Jack Bakasumba.
In their added argument, the MPs state that the term limit for the IGP and the DIGP should be contracted to a four-term in the office. The Legislator from Pakwach District, Hon. Jane Pacuto, argues that the service of the IGP and the Deputy should be reduced to a given period of time and when that time elapses, they should handover the office tools. ” Even the best dancer must leave the stage. We must put a term.” says MP, Jane Pacuto.
Riding on the other amendments, the Parliamt also suggests that even Section 55 (b) of the Police Act, 2006, should be lifted to give liberties to the Police Officers who are dissatisfied with the decisions of the police to have a right to appeal and secure justice from the High Court. In doing this, the Legislators believe fued will be settled among the Police Officers.
The consultations about amendments of Uganda Police Act, 2006 are ongoing and the Legislators seek to advocate for it to the end.