Police warned against extorting money from Covid-19 SOP violators

Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Police in greater Arua and West Nile have been warned against acts of extortion as they prepare to enforce presidential directives for curbing Covid-19 infections, starting Thursday this week.

President Museveni on Sunday ordered the immediate closure of schools, worship places, bars, restricting movement within districts, stopping of boda boda operations by 6:00pm among other measures.

But basing on experience in the March lockdown of last year, some police and security officers in Arua were implicated in acts of extortion especially from boda bodas whose bikes were impounded, before releasing them.

Martin Oroch, the Resident City Commissioner has cautioned security officers against seeking personal gains while enforcing the presidential directives. Oroch also urges the public to promptly report any officer trying to extort money from them.

Similarly, Sam Nyakua, the Mayor Arua city argues that the past lockdown security experience should serve as a lesson and personnel should avoid repeating such mistakes like extortion of money from innocent citizens.

According to Hudson Ocheng, Police PRO for W. Nile, any police officer who is found extorting money will face the law with the giver of the money including losing his or her job.

Ocheng also warns the public against enticing the officers with offers, adding that all those fined by the police will use banks to pay the fines on them.

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