The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
2016-2021 Manifesto achievements for Ministry of Internal Affairs
NRM MANIFESTO WEEK | Improving crime control, detection, prevention and investigation make one of the core roles of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Over the last five years, the Ministry worked tirelessly to achieves the commitments in the ruling NRM Manifesto to strength the security of person and property.
Over the period under consideration, Uganda registered a sustained decline in the volume of crime from 257,774 cases reported in 2015 to 195,931 cases reported in 2020. This resulted into a decline in crime rate from 742 to 502 per 100,000 population over the same period.
To support crime prevention and investigations, Government supported the UPF with anti-crime infrastructure. Phase I of the National CCTV project covering laying of fibre optic cable and installation of 3,101 CCTV cameras in the Kampala Metropolitan Area, establishment of a National Command and Control Centre at Naguru and monitoring centre at all police divisions has been completed while Phase II of the CCTV project which involves rolling out to other cities, municipalities and major highways has been implemented to 83%.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs secured the recently concluded 2021 General Elections despite challenges caused by COVID_19 and limited funding.
The Ministry collaborated with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to enforce the SOPs to prevent escalation of the Corona pandemic.
In terms of SAFETY AND INTERNAL SECURITY; there has been Enhanced Coordination of Internal Security and provision Advisory Services manifested in: Improved National Security Coordination – The Ministry continued to coordinate the activities of the National Security Council, Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce (JAT), Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC), and the Joint Operations Committee (JOC).
The Ministry strengthened management and efficient use of small arms and light weapons across all security agencies through finger printing of all state and non – state -owned firearms and enforcement of the COVID- 19 guidelines denied space to wrong elements to commit crime. The Ministry also continued to identify and demolish unexploded ordinances, train and equip officers who guard the armories.
Through the Government Security Office, the Ministry continued to coordinate provision of security to vital and strategic public and private sector installations such as satellite, dams, among others. Use of commercial explosives continues to be regulated.
The Ministry continued to coordinate the prevention of trafficking in persons, protection of victims and support prosecution against perpetrators. National awareness campaigns against trafficking in persons were undertaken; over the period 1,646 victims of trafficking were intercepted at various exit points, 209 TIP cases were investigated and 59 convictions were secured.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs promoted resolution of Conflicts and Peace Building through the Amnesty Commission. Uganda’s history characterised by political instability has resulted into gross human rights violations and abuses that have disrupted development efforts, destroyed formal and informal institutions and disintegrated the socio-economic fabric of communities. As such, this Ministry, through the Amnesty Commission has: Demobilized a total of 27,565 reporters from the rebel groups across the country (Up to December, 2020); and resettled 21,767 reporters; and 16,386 reporters and victims were reintegrated into their communities though training in agricultural and life skills.
The Ministry has promoted the role of the NGO sector in Uganda’s socio-economic development thru the National Bureau of NGOs in the following ways:
- Undertook a National Verification &validation of 14,207 NGOs on the Updated NGO National Register.
- Operationalized the NGO Act 2016, & relevant Regulations
- Issued 3,854 NGO certificates of registration and 3,430 NGO permits
- Established and built capacity of the District NGO Monitoring Committees in 117 districts
Police to population ratio up from 1:941 to 1:812
During the period under review the Ministry of Internal Affairs continued the professionalization and modernization of the Uganda Police Force. There was increased police staff strength by 10,000 additional personnel thereby bring the total police strength to 52,775 personnel.
This has improved police to population ratio from 1:941 to 1:812. The Ministry also built the capacity of 11,000 in-service personnel through refresher and specialized training in various disciplines including Executive leadership, Strategic Command and Leadership programs, NCOs Course, advanced training in Criminal Investigations, Forensics, Canine, Marine, Fire, Field Force Unit, Counter Terror, Medical, Air wing, etc.
Police Established a Police Senior Command and Staff College at Bwebajja and continued with infrastructural developments in Police Training Schools at Kabalye, Ikafe and Olilim. It also acquired additional transport and specialized equipment.
This includes growth of the UPF fleet from 9,226 to 11,132 equipment (1,412 General purpose vehicles, 211 specialized vehicles, 19 construction equipment, 9,436 motor cycles, 53 marine vessels 3 helicopters and 1 fixed wing aircraft). All these equipment have various capabilities for modern day policing.
The ministry increased the number of Police Districts with Canine services from 50 in FY 2015/16 to 71 in FY 2020/21. Consequently, the number of suspects arrested using canines have increased from 5,508 to 7,203 in the same period. Also increased was the number of marines detaches in the country from 18 in FY 2015/16 to 30 in FY 2020/21.
The police Intensified road traffic operations throughout the country like Fika salama, use of speed guns and breathalyzer, operation against drink driving and errant boda-bodas among others to curb on road indiscipline
To curb gun-related crime, an electronic register (database) of all firearms in Uganda has been established. By April, 2021, 98% of the firearms for the UPF, 96% UPDF, 100% UWA, 99% Prisons, 100% for PSOs, 48% for licensed private individuals had been profiled. This has enabled the country to know who owns which gun, reduction in gun-related crime through tracking if any such firearm has been used in crime. In addition, the UPF has implemented community policing approaches based on the L.C system to promotes citizens’ participation in ensuring their security.
As part of the welfare improvement programme, the police has undertaken to construct 1020 staff housing units at Naguru of which 420 are near completion. In addition 60 housing units have been constructed at various locations in the country.
