Over 1800 pieces of military attire voluntarily handed over to police

Police have said that a total of 1,865 pieces of military paraphernalia in the hands of civilians have been voluntarily returned in a period of three weeks in Kampala.

Early this month, security extended an olive branch to members of the public who have the attires to voluntarily hand them over to police or any other nearest security installation.

On Friday, police spokesperson, Fred Enanga said they have registered success in the past three weeks.

 “The Directorate of Crime Intelligence in partnership with the Ghetto Youth Coordinators launched the operation in Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono aimed at recovering illegal military and police attires from the public following  incidents of aggravated robbery, kidnap, illegal roadblocks at night, house breakings, etc in which the perpetrators were reportedly putting on attires that resemble military or police uniforms,” Enanga said.

“This operation has been Ghetto youth led in our effort to put the people at the centre of national security, while promoting community policing and civil-police cooperation. “

He noted that owners were paid shs10,000 for each piece of attire they voluntarily returned to enable them get replacements, adding that the first phase has been a success.

New phase

The police spokesperson noted that following the elapse of the two weeks grace period, they have now embarked on another phase that will see security arrest anyone found with military or police attire.

 “Anyone found in possession or use of military or  police uniforms or attires that resemble such uniforms will be arrested and charged.”

Enanga appealed to members of the public to desist from buying and acquiring such attires as their possession promotes insecurity and is illegal.

“The public is urged to report illegal possession of such items to Police and other sister security forces for immediate retrieval. The dealers who transact in used and new clothes that resemble military attires are hereby advised to stop it forthwith, and hand over such items to the Police or other security agencies to avoid unnecessary consequences.”

The joint security spokesperson said police and the UPDF have instituted stringent measures to ensure full control and accountability for the stores in the possession of their personnel’s and will continue to work closely with the public to promote security of Ugandans.

The law

Section 170(2) of the Penal Code Act says that any person who, without the authority of the persons upon whose application an order under this section has been made, uses or wears any uniform, badge, button or other distinctive mark described in the order, or any uniform, badge, button or another distinctive mark so closely resembling the same as to lead to the belief that it is a uniform, badge, button or another distinctive mark so described, commits a misdemeanour.

The Penal Code Act, however, doesn’t specify the punishment for this offence but says “when any person is convicted of any offence under this section, the uniform, badge, button or another distinctive mark in respect of which the offence has been committed shall be forfeited unless the Minister shall otherwise order.