REFLECTIONS ON THE LAW AND ORDER SECTOR IN UGANDA

Being a developing country, there exists a lot of challenges -including cases of corruption and unconstitutional behaviors by government. A lot of times government manipulates the constitution to have its interests addressed -with the help of money, job promises, fear-factor, enforcement by partisan security agencies, and divide-and-rule strategy.

Today, much emphasis is put on issues that threaten government -while pertinent social aspirations are shelved. Someone has to pray so that God keeps him or her healthy throughout the year -to avoid misery in government health-centers. In areas, where people earn seasonally as those in rural areas, access to quality services -more so drugs is always a dream.

Drug theft and shortage of personnel remains a big issue. More recently, however, the fight against drug theft has gone a step. However, for the huge donor and tax-payer money often stolen thief's go free. Those found to be valuable personalities are protected against the long arm of the law. Wealthy people will always find it easy to manipulate security systems with ease -like facilitating arrest of those found sabotaging their interests.

It is even worse that the sector lacks vital facilities -with which to fairly execute work -such as; humane living conditions, enabling work environments and policing vehicles. Any wealthy person capable of helping security agencies rescue such challenges is likely to assume immunity over arrests and future prosecution -even for most grave acts.

On the other hand, poor victims will be expected to meet transport costs needed to have security agents carry out arrests. In instances -where money is lacking, then such a victim will have to accept injustices inflicted by the offender and security agencies -respectfully.

If the wealthy offender went through the backdoor and paid a bribe, the police would resort to either destroying the files or showing no interest in further pursuit of the case. Instead, they will keep promising action that never passes. No wonder, poor people are known to assume power to attain justice -guided by the mob justice theory.

Moses Ndifuna, the magistrate provides a good example. In addition to the known problems Busoga has, he added shame to it. If that is the world we live in, to whom will a peasant and victimized person run? There is no confidence -be it in the work of judges, the police and presidency? May be trust in God is the way to go -having already declared a national prayer before -to rid the nation of corruption. But that too would be ineffective -since majority of people prefer heaven on Earth.

In addition to the salary paid to them (police), they will demand payment before attending to a case. Failure to do it, none of them will want to “waste their time.” All officers will either look on or walk away. The reason for walking away is to avoid possibilities of receiving an order from a senior officer.

As though protecting bad workmanship, even the senior officer will be reluctant to carryout orders. When complaints are brought to them all -including the senior officers, they will relentlessly ask the victim to either quit the case or go solve it "peacefully" with the offender. They all show signs of laziness as though professionally misplaced.

Hearing them talk, they, indeed, show much respect to Kale Kaihura than anyone in the police force. For example, statements like "if Kaihura hears that some of us are taking bribes on top of our salaries, we will be in trouble." Imagine, the poor Kaihura being expected to have an eagle's eye and monitor whatever takes place at the lowest level. It is now understandable -when he says his job is hardest, though as a police commissioner or leader he must have used his time to replicate kaihura-mentality to lowest ranks -without fear or favor.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the police failed to contain the 11th September Buganda riots. This will mean having the police militarized as the trend already is. But, since poor work attitudes and corruption are a natural with the system, new military boys too would be infected. It will not stop with the police; the army too is vulnerable. And if so, then, the presidency must watch-out for deliberate security mishaps.

Fighting corruption, then, should cease to be a matter of the opposition political parties or Nandala Mafabi alone, but a responsibility of everyone -including the ruling party. This is so because anyone can be victimized by it. Like Mafabi is trying to do, it should involve identifying institutional problem, responsible person and breaking mafia circles -both at the fore-front of the practice and at coordinating and sustaining points. Otherwise, criminals will move first to identify such a weaknesses, exploit them, and disable the important management and decision-making chain.

And the picture showing from the current trend in the law and order sector, like in many other public institutions, is that of poor recruitment criteria. The system never measures motive, passion, environment-fit or personality-fit before recruiting individuals. Money imperialism, corruption, and lack of integrity has eroded ethics and standardization.

Instead, recruiters are ordered to admit people into the force -regardless of their ability and interest or bribed to enable desperate job-seekers find salaried jobs. They are the kind -who if called to perform, begin to show disinterest in the whole idea of serving in the force. The consequences become vivid -when they eventually opt to quit or prove negligent -whilst on duty.

Jacob Waiswa
Situation Health Analysis
www.situationhealthanalysis.blogspot.com