Lira named worst district in crime investigations

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  Police officers in Lira District are the worst in crime investigations, according to a police performance survey conducted by the force’s research directorate.

Police’ Research Director Edward Ochom says that Lira, with a score of 36.7 per cent, scored way below the average during an assessment on crime investigations, monthly returns and complaints from the public against police officers.  

Ochom said that Lira was followed by Omoro at 39.8 and Kiira Division, Kiira Municipality, Wakiso District at 40.4 per cent.   

Police assessment, according to Ochom, was based on the percentage of cases taken to court as a measure of case investigations management, the number of monthly returns delivered to police headquarters by the 15th day of the subsequent month, and the percentage of suspects released or taken to court within 48 hours.

These were used as a measure of observance of human rights and to gauge adherence to the provisions of the police standing orders. Following a statistical analysis, police have observed that majority of the policing districts and divisions scored below 50 per cent an indication of poor performance.    

The Police committee that conducted the assessment examined records of what the communities have contributed to support the fight against crime and recognized individuals whose support to police stood out.    

Awarded individuals and companies include Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited SCOUL /Mehta, for renovating Lugazi police station, Minister John C Muyingo, for renovating Zirobwe police station, Hajji Mulinde Talutambulinde Mulinde, Kiwanga Local Council One Chairman, for donating land and building Kiwanga Police Post, Goma Division, Mukono Municipality and Hajji Bulaimu Muwanga Kibirige (BMK) for building Wampewo Avenue Police Post.  

Others honoured by IGP include Ramathan Ramagana, for building Nakivubo Police Post, Ssalongo Robert Byekwaso, for building accommodation for police officers at Ngoobe Police Post, Nelson Graig of Biyinzika for building detention cells for women and children at Jinja Road, Winterland Primary School-Kyebando for composing three police songs and Thobani Mahamood for providing accommodation for police officers at Golo landing site.  

Meanwhile, Ochola also awarded regional and district police commanders of Yumbe, Kumi and Katwe K’abatooro that merged in first, second and third positions scoring 73, 71 and 70 per cent respectively.      

Police last held performance assessments of its officers in different policing areas in 2008.

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