President Museveni has warned newly passed-out Probationer Police Constables against engaging in corruption or else they risk ruining their future.
"We are really going to crush corruption. Fortunately, I have got some people who are not happy with corruption, and anybody who is corrupt will regret. We have given them a chance, they misused it, and now we are coming for them," Museveni said.
He made the remarks on Friday while presiding over the pass-out of 10,017 Probationer Police Constables at the Police Training School in Kabalye, Masindi District.
He urged the new officers to uphold integrity throughout their careers, warning them against allowing anyone to lure them into corrupt practices.
"You are young people. Nobody should stain your contribution by involving you in corruption because it is undermining programmes like the Parish Development Model, the health sector and many others," he said.
Museveni said corruption has denied the country resources needed to improve public services, including healthcare.
"The money I keep giving for people to go abroad for treatment of cancer and diabetes should instead be used to perfect our systems here. If anything is lacking, why not improve it? Instead of taking money to India or Turkey, why not invest it here?" he asked.
"The issue of corruption is the Lowest Common Multiple. Any problem you find, there is corruption behind it," he said.
He urged the officers to maintain professionalism wherever they are deployed and avoid associating with corrupt individuals.
The President also encouraged the recruits to support government's wealth creation agenda by mobilising their families and communities to embrace income-generating programmes.
"The future is very bright for you. This country has many opportunities, especially in wealth creation. We want to eliminate poverty. When you go back home, encourage your parents to join wealth creation programmes and get out of poverty because it can be done. Many families have already succeeded, and we want every Ugandan to benefit," he said.
Museveni added that once poverty is reduced, government can focus more resources on improving healthcare and other social services for all citizens.
On security, the President said crime can be effectively tackled if police officers make proper use of available investigative tools.
"Criminals are easy to deal with because they always leave tracks behind. They don't come in helicopters, and even if they did, we would hear them. They move on foot, motorcycles or vehicles," he said.
He cited livestock theft and other rural crimes as examples where officers can rely on sniffer dogs and Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras to track down suspects.
Museveni urged police officers to sensitise communities against interfering with crime scenes, saying preserving evidence enables sniffer dogs and other investigative technologies to work effectively.
"If a criminal walks for some distance before boarding a motorcycle or vehicle, the sniffer dog will trace the route, and thereafter the CCTV cameras can help identify where they went," he said.
The Inspector General of Police, Abas Byakagaba, said the new Probationer Police Constables (PPCs) will significantly boost the force's manpower.
"This is the first time the Uganda Police Force has trained and passed out 9,952 recruits in a single intake. This represents a 20.5% increase from our previous manpower strength of 48,417 officers. We thank you for enabling us to achieve this milestone," Byakagaba said.
He explained that with the addition of the new recruits, the force's strength will rise to 58,369 officers, of whom 43,737 (75%) are male. This translates into a police-to-population ratio of 1:839, although he acknowledged that the force remains below the international benchmark of one police officer for every 500 people.
Byakagaba said the newly passed-out constables will strengthen the sub-county policing model.
"In 2019, you directed the police to take services closer to communities by ensuring that every sub-county, town council and municipality has a fully operational police station. We have since made significant progress, covering 1,231 sub-counties, representing 56% coverage across the 23 police regions," he said.
He added that the force has so far distributed 1,268 official police counter phones to sub-counties and is focusing on popularising the contact numbers to improve public access to police services.
Byakagaba also revealed that the force is prioritising the acquisition of electric motorcycles to enhance mobility and improve policing at the sub-county level.
The Commandant of the Kabalye Police Training School, Patrick Lawot Akim, said the graduating cohort comprises 9,952 Probationer Police Constables who completed 11 months of training, alongside 65 immigration officers who underwent a four-month training programme.
He urged the graduates to uphold professionalism, noting that the public expects exemplary service from them.
"I am optimistic that the training and mentorship you have received will enable you to serve with the integrity, discipline and commitment required," Akim said.
