Police officers working at the Kireka-based Special Investigations Unit/Division (SIU/D) have started getting ready to relocate to the Criminal Investigations Directorate -CID headquarters in Kibuli following a directive by the Inspector General of Police, Martin Ochola.
IGP Ochola directed the officers to relocate about a fortnight ago on grounds that SID had become a lawless center where people could be detained for days without any explanation thereby tainting the police image.
He reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that people were being abducted each day prompting their relatives to storm SID, sometimes even when it was not involved in such operations.
Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga, declined to divulge details in the directive, saying that the police leadership took a decision that all CID divisions be headquartered at Kibuli including SID. “All CID Divisions are now headquartered in Kibuli,” Enanga said.
However, sources indicate that the facility is going to be handed over to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces -UPDF for special operations against violent crime since it formerly housed Operation Wembley under the command of now retired Maj Gen Elly Kayanja.
Col. Deo Akiiki, the UPDF Deputy Spokesperson, said he was not aware of the proposed takeover of the SIU facility. “Has the police told you it has left it in our hands? Who said that? You need to talk to authorities like police spokesperson,” Col Akiiki said.
When asked further, Enanga said the place will not be closed completely. “The facility is not closed. The Kireka facility remains open and active,” Enanga said. Asked who will be in charge of the facility, when SIU shifts to CID headquarters, Enanga said: “It’s classified.”