Police to recruit 5000 more constables

Uganda Police Force (UPF) has announced the recruitment of 5000 more constables to beef up its thing manpower capacity.

According to the Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, the 5000 will be part of the 10000 officers that the force needs to fill the manpower gaps that they have.

“Applications are, therefore, invited from interested candidates beginning September, 7 2020 till September 19 , 2020, and should be submitted at the respective District/Divisional Police Headquarters. The applications shall be transferred to Police Headquarters where a shortlist of successful candidates shall be processed and published for interviews at a date that will be released later,”Enanga said in the statement.

“This new batch of officers forms part of the recruitment of 10000 new police officers which was launched in August 2019, as part of the police uplift program. It is our determination, therefore, to continue with our planned programs despite the difficult Covid-19 climate.”

According to the police mouthpiece, applicants must possess a maximum academic qualification of UCE Certificate (O’level) or its equivalent with at least 4 credits including English and at least a pass in mathematics.

“We would like to further reiterate that the police is on equal opportunities employer and the process of recruitment is by rule and merit. The effective recruitment into the force is subject to the successful completion of the initial training. The public should know that being a police officer is more than a career, but a noble calling.”

Background

In his handover report, the former Inspector General of Police, Gen.Kale Kayihura in 2018 said the Police Force had 44600 officers but an audit done by his successor, John Martins Okoth Ochola indicated that the number was less.

It was also found out that many of the officers had either deserted, retired, died or natural caused or killed during operations prompting the force to seek to recruit at least 10,000 constables to fill the vacuum left behind.

Whereas in the past the force wanted those who join as constables to have at least attained a UACE certificate, the qualifications were lowered to UCE (senior four ) certificate after reports indicated that those with senior six certificates were using the force as a springboard to other careers.

With the current 38000 officers that the force has currently, the ratio is 1:850.

The force has consistently argued that the current numbers are not enough to conform to the UN policing standard of 1:500 ratio where a single police officer is supposed to man 500 people.