Gen Otafiire tells President Museveni: “I bleed when I see police officers suffering …”

“Corruption is a big problem but easy to fight,” President Museveni tells CID & DPP Officers

President Museveni has asked criminal investigators to strengthen their linkage with the population in order to fight corruption better and wipe it out completely. According to the President, the vice which he said remains a big problem is easy to fight because the local people on ground who are the beneficiaries of public resources being stolen are willing to share information regarding the corrupt.

“Because corruption is mainly targeting government resources which are destined for the people. The money for the road is going to a feeder road in a district, the capitation grant is supposed to go to a school, the drugs are going to the health centre, the Parish Development Model (PDM) money is going to the parish, the myoga money is going to the constituency. In all those areas, there are potential beneficiaries who are denied this money because of the corruption. So, you CID officers, this is very easy work for you. Just liaise with the people who are the victims of the corruption, they will tell you,” H.E Museveni said.

The President was on Thursday 05th September 2024 speaking as a chief guest at the closure of the two-day annual coordination meeting between the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of Uganda Police that kicked off at CID headquarters in Kibuli.

The meeting held under the theme, “The Contribution of ODPP/CID in the Social Economic Transformation of Uganda,” brought together about 620 participants, including investigators, prosecutors, and key stakeholders in the criminal justice system to strengthen coordination, collaboration, and cooperation for successful prosecutions in sophisticated high-profile cases and crimes like corruption, land issues, and electoral offenses such as malpractice, violence, and intimidation among others.

On the issue of bail in high-profile cases such as murder, corruption, rape and treason, His Excellency the President informed prosecutors and criminal investigators not to delay investigations and be careful about bailing out suspects which later becomes a big mistake especially if the case is ready for trial.

“The Chief Justice through Chief Justices' instruction had clarified that applying for bail is a right, but granting bail is not a right. It is a decision by the judge taking into account the circumstances. Yes, the accused has a right but the victims also have a right. Be careful with these Africans who still believe in the law of Moses about an eye for an eye. So, if you want peace with Africans, please we want full accountability,” H.E Museveni stated.

On the issue of welfare, the President assured Ugandans that now that the economy is growing everybody will be catered for in a phased manner. He said by 1970 before Amin came into power, he had started working in the public service getting a salary of Shs.1,300 as an assistant secretary. Lawyers at that time were getting Shs.1,400 because the country needed more lawyers and the doctors were getting 1500 because they were few.

“That’s why I insisted that the scientists are paid more because we need them and they’re not many. Now we have added on the prosecutors. The economy is growing and we shall definitely reach everybody,” Gen Museveni said.

The Commander in Chief of the UPDF also assured Ugandans that the strategy of the National Resistance Movement on Uganda’s economy is continuing to work as planned starting with the minimum economic recovery.

“Because the British had told your people that coffee and cotton and tobacco were the only cash crops and maize was not a cash crop but just a food for eating. When we came in, we said no, everything that has a market is a cash crop. That’s how we ended up making maize, cassava and milk cash products,” The President noted.

Earlier, the Minister for Internal Affairs Gen Kahinda Otafiire informed the President of the need to improve the welfare especially the living conditions of police officers who have to travel long distances to and from work despite their meagre salaries.

Inspector General of Uganda Police Force, Abas Byakagaba thanked President Museveni for the appointment to the position and the recent seven promotions of officers to the level of Inspector General of Police and committed to serve above self.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo hailed the good relationship with the Office of Criminal Investigations Department to investigate and prosecute criminal cases in Uganda under their respective mandates. She said that at the Anti-Corruption Court, the DPP is standing at 86% conviction rate.

The Uganda Police Force's Director of Criminal Investigations, Tom Magambo informed President Museveni that CID has gradually improved their investigations capacity adding that most of the times they call when they are almost done with investigations.

ENDS