The High Court Civil Division has further adjourned a case filed by Human Rights Lawyer Steven Kalali over poor housing facilities for police officers.
In April 2022, Kalali petitioned the High Court to direct the government to provide decent housing for all police officers in the country. Kalali argued that since the promulgation of the 1995 Constitution, police officers have continued living in dilapidated structures unfit for human habitation.
This petition came after legislators on the Internal Affairs Committee visited Jinja Police Barracks and found existing dilapidated structures built in 1934. The barracks was housing 1,662 people instead of the planned population of 249 people.
However, Human Rights Committee says the court is frustrating his case by consistently adjourning sessions.
His observation comes as another hearing scheduled for January 12, 2023, failed to kick off on grounds that the trial Judge Dr. Douglas Singiza was handling election petitions. He says the adjournment is a frustration to the dispensation of justice.
This is not the first time that the case is being adjourned. In November 2022, the Court Registrar again adjourned the matter to January 12th, because the judge was out on judicial training.
Besides poor housing, Kalali is also concerned about the police officers’ poor pay with the lowest ranking officer, a police constable earning Shs 470,000 per month followed by a Corporal, who earns Shs 530,000, and a sergeant, who gets Shs 570,000.
The next officers in the ranking are Assistant Inspector of Police and Inspector of Police, who earn Shs 456,000 and Shs 520,000 per month respectively
