The Uganda police force has denied allegations on social media and some media outlets that the IGP. Gen Kale Kayihura promised to arm crime preventers and maintain the current government in power.
According to a statement forwarded to our Editor by Fred Enanga the police spokesperson, Gen. Kayihura is not impressed with the words and or statement attributed to him by the media recently during the double event of passing out crime preventers and the sports gala in Kapchorwa.
He quotes three stories carried by the Daily Monitor Newspaper of Monday 25th January, 2016, in the Observer Newspaper, and by NBS television.
“In the Daily Monitor Newspaper of Monday 25th January, 2016, a story was published under the mini headline ‘Go hang-Kayihura tells of critics on crime preventers’’. And in the Observer Newspaper, a dangerous story was run under the headline ‘Elections; Rugunda, Kayihura disagree on power transfer, where it went on to add’’ we shall not hand over power to the opposition to destabilize the peace we fought for’’. The same story was picked by NBS television.”
The real words of the IGP are however quoted as, “All we need to do is to change the sticks and give them rifles and by the way I would like to tell you this, you are a reserve of the army, in case of war, you will be called upon because the police are the reserve of the army, according to the law.”
Enanga blames the Journalists for intending to provoke publicity and generate controversy by portraying the IGP in bad faith as an officer who does not uphold and observe rule of law.
According to the Police Act, the Minister of Internal Affairs, at any time, can call the police to serve as a military force, so by extension the crime preventers in case of any a war, can be called upon. And that’s why they should be trained in skills at arm and self defense, so that you have a force here.
