KAMPALA – The Uganda Police Force is set for a nationwide headcount exercise to determine a precise number of officers employed by the institution. The exercise starts today.
Officers in the institution have always preferred to give an estimate of the officers staffing strength of the force, without giving a precise figure.
The Inspector General of Police, John Martins Okoth-Ochola in March ordered for a headcount in Police to establish the actual number of serving officers countrywide.
William Okalany, the Professional Standards Unit commander, said the process is intended to determine the exact number of personnel and it will begin with units, divisions and regions within Kampala before rolling out to upcountry regions and districts.
Okalany in a circular dated June15, told police officers to get ready for the headcount which will kick off on Monday, June 18.
“All officers are ordered to standby at their stations for a headcount on Monday 18th Day of June 2018. RPCs and DPCs take due note,” Mr Okalany said.
The statement added that all personnel working within a district or division regardless of their mother units will be verified from that particular area where they are attached.
He warned that officers who will not be verified during the exercise should know the consequences upon missing the headcount.
All personnel have been ordered present a recent passport photo, police number, bank account, TIN numbers, National Identity Card number, date of enlist into the force, date of posting to current station and date of last promotion as part of the exercise.
While he handed over office to Mr Ochola, the former IGP Kale Kayihura said he had elevated the Police force from a bad shape of 18,000 officers that he found it 12 ago, to 43,000 when he handed over in March this year.
“Inspite of the recent bad image, I am handing over a police force that is in better shape than the one I found. The force is now built on a solid foundation. And in spite of the setbacks, we are moving in the right direction”, Gen Kayihura said.
However, the former IGP, who is currently undergoing questioning by the military faces possible criminal charges following several transgressions committed by some police officers during his reign.
