Kampala — In Uganda, most people believe the Police are brutal. Studies, commissions of inquiry and indexes, one after another, have, over the years, highlighted that the Police force is corrupt, brutal, barbaric, cruel with policing standards far below those required of such a civilian force in a democratic society.

The Police have been dubbed militaristic in nature and lethal in operation, a perception that has been reinforced by the current new uniforms which are similar to military fatigues.

The daily news clips on television depicting what is supposed to be a civilian Police battering unarmed people equipped with only paper placards; the brutal pictures in tabloids of Ugandans being dumped on the Police vehicles, stepped on by officers and sprayed with teargas directly on their bodies has worsened the already strained relationship between the Police and the populace.

Ultimately, the Uganda Police have been perceived as a machinery aimed at suppressing divergent views from those of the Government.

This image has been very instrumental in over-shadowing the great works the Police continue to do amid political interference, inadequate human resource among other poor working conditions.

The people of Uganda have for long mistrusted the Police and the relationship with Police has been characterised by mistrust, suspicion and biases. Is this bound to change? For the past six months, there has been an ongoing Police review process.

After over a 100 years of existence, the Police leadership deemed it fit to review the institution. The review will focus on the legal framework, administrative structures, operation procedures and relations with the public, among others. The Police team together with consultants of Akijul and Human Rights Network Uganda, have been traversing the country consulting the public on how the Police can be reformed to serve the populace better.

People from all walks of life have been engaged. A few days back, a walk in office was launched by the Police. At this office, people can freely go and give their suggestions on the kind of Police they want.

The journey has been and remains long. Hopes of Uganda fully democratising and embracing pluralism with the Police at the centre of law and order have been doubted.

However, with initiatives such as the Police review, which is open to the public's new ideas on how to improve the Force, there is renewed hope. It is our time to act.

Let us all visit the Police review office on Parliament Plaza, Eco Bank building located on Parliament Avenue, and contribute our views towards Police reform. The Police review process is the long awaited change process. For once, we have a chance to tell the Police what Ugandans want.

The writer works with the Human Rights Network Uganda.