Andrew Bagala
9 May 2008
Kampala — The fight against graft in the Uganda Police Force gained momentum on Wednesday when operatives of the Police Professional Standards Unit (PPSU) arrested 17 traffic officers on the spot for allegedly soliciting bribes from errant drivers.
Daily Monitor has learnt that the suspects were stalked by undercover informers who video recorded the illegal transactions and then alerted the Police Professional Standards Unit crack personnel.
Parading the suspects before the press yesterday, Mr Steven Kasiima - the commissioner for Traffic, said the constables, some of who had stashed the money (bribes) in their undergarments, headgear and armpits, had denigrated the reputation of the Force.
"We are working hand in hand with the Police Professional Standards Unit to remove the bad apples in the Police Force from the good ones," Mr Kasiima said.
The seventeen officers, including four women, were arrested along Mukwano, Hoima and Old Port Bell roads in Kampala and within the city centre.
The crime of the officers, police say, is allowing wanted traffic offenders and mechanically unfit vehicles to ply city roads after pocketing tips from them.
Over Shs1 million was recovered from the 17 suspects who included a corporal, seven police constables and nine Probation Police Constables (PPCs).
Mr Kasiima, flanked by his deputy Geoffrey Aropet, said the traffic officers had abused their authority by extorting money from motorists while performing official duties for which they are paid from tax payers money.
As it turns out, the surprise arrest of the police constables is part of the wider and ongoing crackdown on errant motorists and vehicles in dangerous mechanic condition.
At least 700 motorists have been arrested and 2, 500 rickety vehicles seized since the special operation began on March 31.
Mr John Ndugutse, the commandant of PPSU said they have for long been receiving information that most of their traffic officers are corrupt -and were taking money from motorists who are willing to offer bribes to cover up their traffic offences.
"We were getting information that our officers were becoming prosecutors and judges, asking for money from motorists," Mr Ndugutse said, adding, "We now want to clean our house."
A police source told Daily Monitor that police collaborated with some drivers' associations to videotape officers soliciting bribes from drivers. But effective yesterday, police announced that such drivers (offering bribes) would be apprehended and prosecuted.
Police Constable James Okello was allegedly found with Shs10 million Zimbabwean dollars while Constable Alfred Zinomuhangi had obtained Kshs50.
Since its establishment last July, the PPSU has unearthed 909 cases of undisciplined police officers and reportedly completed investigations into 461 of them. Reports of the completed cases have since been sent to the Inspector General of Police for appropriate action.
PPSU statistics show that acts of shameful conduct involving police personnel are on the rise. Last month alone, PPSU received 231 of such cases including murder, negligence of duty and corruption.
An interdicted police officer or civil servant for that matter usually gets half of the monthly pay until their case is disposed of.
As a rule, officers found guilty are dismissed with disgrace and have to forfeit service benefits like gratuity or pension.
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