Corruption in Police attributed to insufficient funds allocated

The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Irene Mulyagonja, has asked government to allocate satisfactory funds to the Uganda Police Force to ensure effective service delivery.

Mulyagonja called upon all stakeholders fight corruption which is eating up the country like a Virus. She was speaking to journalists at the media centre in Kampala on Monday.

During a caravan across the country, the Anti-corruption agencies received reports that the police was taking bribes from suspects.

Giving an example of Lyantonde police station, the officers stated receiving inadequate resources such as fuel among others, something that has prompted them to be corrupt. Mulyagonja said this vice of corruption has been exacerbated by the insufficient funds allocated to Uganda Police Force.

“The police are compelled to solicit additional funds from the complainants to facilitate the operations and carry out their responsibilities,” IGG Irene Mulyagonja said.

IGG also said they had received allegations of police habitually taking bribes to let the community access services. Mulyagonja said; “Corruption defies fundamental human rights, institutions and the belief in the systems that have been created.”

“Anti-corruption agencies through the existing collaboration will engage all stakeholders at various levels to demand for corruption free services and report corruption," she added.

The Inspectorate of Government in partnership with the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity , Office of the Auditor General and Public Procurement and Disposal of public Assets Authority are organising this year’s activities under the theme; “Restoring Integrity in Civil Service ; Regaining public trust in the Anti- Corruption fight .”

As Uganda joins the rest of the world to celebrate the International Anti-corruption day on December 9, corruption remains the major hindrance of service delivery and political, social and economic development.