The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | If you are a person who moves in public vehicles, you have at least ever witnessed a taxi driver doing whatever possible to dodge a police roadblock. In some scenarios you saw a police patrol or traffic police officer chasing a stubborn driver or motorcyclist.
People have different reasons as to why they panic or refuse to stop whenever police waves them down. Ali Mulindwa, a taxi driver who plies along Kireka-Namugongo and Kampala-Kawempe roads says he does not trust police officers a reason he does whatever is within his means to avoid police roadblocks.
“When I had just started driving taxis, I was stopped by traffic officers on a patrol car along Northern Bypass. My vehicle was new and I had all documents like a driving permit but they still created stories until they took my Shs70,000. I decided that I will always dodge traffic officers,” Mulindwa argues.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Charles Ssebambulidde, also traffic police spokesperson, says police have discovered that people who run away from roadblocks or police patrols lack road requirements such as driving permits, Motor Third Party or sometimes their vehicles have pending penalties.
“Police stopping a driver does not mean he or she has committed a crime. It may be because of road diversion ahead. It might be because of a bridge that has collapsed in. Sometimes it could be because of a heavy truck stuck in the middle of the road. Always stop and ask why you have been stopped,” says Ssebambulidde.
He says some accidents are caused by drivers trying to dodge a roadblock. He warns that running away from police patrol or road block could make one be charged for causing accidents or disrupting traffic flow.
Superintendent of Police, Patrick Onyango, also Kampala Metropolitan police mouthpiece, says when a police patrol stops you or when you reach a road barrier, you are supposed to obey in order to avoid a wrong decision being taken against you.
SP Onyango explains like that disobeying police guidelines on roads creates a suspicion that you are perhaps a wrong element. SP Onyango elaborates that police usually stages roadblocks to reduce accidents, hunting for a vehicle that has committed crime or when there is something likely to endanger road users.
“In our situation where things happen every fast, where action has to be taken very fast, you might find a person who is innocent has been shot because he was running away. If a police officer fires warning shots and you don’t stop, he might take a quick decision which might be a bad one,” says Onyango.
SP Onyango’s argument concedes with last week’s incident where a suspected criminal was shot at works ministry’s premises. A policeman guarding the ministry reportedly fired two warning shots after spotting a suspicious person in the night. The suspects reportedly continued running away until he was shot in the legs.
Ssebambulidde highlights things that identify a roadblock staged by police among others a police signpost, a patrol car, police motorcycle and police officers dressed in police uniforms.
“If you are stopped by a person dressed in a police uniform, his or her uniform must have a name-tag. He must introduce himself and then explain to you why you have been stopped,” Ssebambulidde explains.
Asked to explain what a driver can do in a case of a roadblock where there are no police signposts, motorcycle or patrol cars, Ssebambulidde says: “If there is no patrol car or police motorcycle, there must be a reasonable number of police officers who stand in a visible place and act professionally while stopping vehicles. You also have a right to ask questions like why there is no visible signpost or patrol cars.”
SP Onyango says people should not fear police because police work for the people and the people must play a big role in ensuring the duty of police is fulfilled. This, he says involves respecting police guidelines such as stopping when waved down.
“The roadblock we have nowadays especially on highways, have police patrol cars and signposts to show that it is police doing its work. If you are requested to stop, please obey. They will check you, ask you a few questions and you will go,” SP Onyango.
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