Germany donates to Uganda Police Forensics directorate

The Federal Police of Germany has donated 14 motorcycles to help the Forensics Directorate officers of the Uganda Police move to and from various crime scenes, especially in the remote areas of the country.

The motorcycles were handed over by Hans Von Schroeder, the deputy head of mission at the Germany Embassy in Uganda and Stefan Koch, the Germany Police liaison officer to AIGP Asan Kasingye, the Police’s Chief Political Commissar and AIGP Andrew Mubiru, the Police Forensics Director at a function held at the Police headquarters in Naguru.

“This is another milestone in the long standing cooperation between the Germany and Uganda police. The donation is aimed at increasing flexibility for forensics officers especially in the countryside where distances are long and it is not easy to get transport means to more remote crime scenes,” Schroeder.

The deputy head of mission at the Germany Embassy said by donating the motorcycles to the forensics directorate of the Uganda Police, they are investing in the security of the country in a bid to ensure it can effectively handle all cases, especially crimes.

“The motorcycles are equipped with boxes to carry tools and equipment to remote areas. This is an investment in security because we believe security of citizens of a country is essential to ensure peace and stability,” Schroeder.

He also emphasized cooperation between the various countries and security agencies as a way of fighting cross-border criminality.

Speaking on behalf of Uganda Police, AIGP Asan Kasingye hailed the Germany Police for the long standing cooperation with Uganda that he said dates many years back.

He noted that in the past years, Uganda Police’s Forensics directorate and the Criminal Investigations Directorate have benefitted from cyber security, counter terrorism and application of new forensics techniques trainings from the Federal Police of Germany.

“We are grateful for the gesture of cooperation between the two forces. It is not for police but the people of Uganda who love peace, security and law and order. We look forward for the continued cooperation,” Kasingye said.

He noted that the Forensics directorate has done a commendable job in helping fighting criminality but also reduce case backlog in courts of law.

“Forensics services are among those that have supported CID in whatever they do. It is because of this cooperation that many cases like the suspects in the attempted murder on Gen Katumba Wamala were arrested. Forensics directorate played a key role in this case. We have also seen continued reduction in case backlog in courts of law partly because of the role played by forensics," he added.

According to Kasingye, such donations to the directorate help to bolster their efforts in ensuring they do their job efficiently.

“We need advanced technology to deal with crime which is always becoming sophisticated.  We shall continue to strengthen our cooperation with partners like the Federal Police of Germany as one of the ways to deal with transnational crimes.”

The Police Forensics Director, Andrew Mubiru said in the past, the Federal Police of Germany has trained Ugandan officers in fingerprint examination, crime scene management and forensics photography among other fields.

“In future, we request for more trainings but above all, benchmarking visits to Germany to enable our get the required techniques,”Mubiru said.