PRESS RELEASE

Yesterday, Monday, 7th December 2015, two reports were released

by two organizations, namely, Amnesty International, and
Transparency International. We did not have the benefit of
accessing and reading the reports before they were published.
Therefore, at this point we shall, only, make general comment as
we prepare detailed responses to the allegations made against
the Uganda Police.
We begin with the report of the Amnesty International. The
report, far from being an objective analysis of the events and
situations mentioned in the report, can only be described as a
partisan, propaganda statement, clearly intended to depict the
Police in very negative light for reasons that can only be
described as sinister.
Indeed, we are surprised, and extremely disappointed that in
spite of the fact that we were very cooperative to representatives
of the Amnesty International, and, together spending days, and
hours, (including I, personally), painstakingly going through the
allegations made against the Police and giving information,
context, and explanations in respect of incidents and situations
mentioned in the report, Amnesty International gives prominence,
and credibility to those accusing the Police, and, no justice to the
elaborate information on what happened, background to what
happened, as well as explaining police actions in each case,
including the management of criminal cases, and handling of
suspects that we made available to them. Instead, where they
mention the Police, it is only to note but completely dismiss what
we told them. The mandate of the Police of keeping law and
order, as well as the obligations of organizers of public events
under the Public Order Management Act and other laws are hardly
mentioned and taken into account in their report. Moreover, while

the report focuses on isolated incidents of clashes of the Police

with political activists, it does not bother (in spite of our
explanations) to, objectively, mention the causes, the genesis, i.e.
the chain of causation of those clashes, since their preoccupation
is to give a negative image that Police is targeting certain political
groups. It does not mention the fact that many public rallies were
held peacefully during the primaries of the respective parties, in
particular the FDC, where Dr Kizza Besigye and
Maj
Gen Mugisha Muntu traversed the country campaigning with the
support of the Uganda Police. It does not mention that
nominations of Presidential, and Parliamentary, and Local council
candidates accompanied by mass processions and rallies took
place peacefully secured by the Uganda Police. It does not
mention that campaigns by all Presidential and other candidates
are going on peacefully throughout the country secured by the
Uganda Police. In fact, as I watched, and listened, last night, to
Ms Sarah Johnson of Amnesty International on an NTV
programme, I could not help wonder whether it is the same
person that we have been meeting, cordially, and corresponding
with regularly.
For the benefit of the public, we intend to give detailed responses
to each and every allegation, and conclusions of Amnesty
International, point by point, as we gave to Ms Sarah Johnson and
her delegation, when we met them.
As for the report of Transparency International, we did not have
benefit to interact with them before hand. We are, however, still
unsatisfied with the methods used by Transparency International
in carrying out their surveys. Nevertheless, we shall study their
findings, and, equally, give responses.
Finally, we wish to assure the public that the fight against
corruption, indiscipline, and other professional misconduct in the
Force has been on for some decades and is yielding results.
Specifically, the Professional Standards Unit, and the Directorate

of Legal Services and Human Rights are tasked with detecting,

and punishing service offences. Beginning this year, we shall
make public annual reports on the fight against corruption, and
other misconduct in the Uganda Police, and actions taken against
concerned officers. We do not suggest that there are no more
incidents of corruption in the Police, and nobody can make that
claim with respect to any institution, organization or country
anywhere in the world, (including those who posture to be
holier than thou and are always quick to passing
judgment on others). But, there is no doubt that we are winning
the fight, especially with increased vigilance within the force, as
well as popular vigilance from the public, particularly crime
preventers.
We, therefore, call upon the public not to be quick to judge the
Police on the basis of the two reports. As Amnesty International
invokes international standards, they forget the Principle of
Natural Justice which requires that before one is judged one
should be given a fair hearing. While Amnesty International
duped us that they were giving us that hearing, Transparency
International did not even attempt or pretend to do before they
published their report.
I appeal to the officers, men, and women of the Uganda Police not
to be discouraged by the two reports because, precisely that is
the objective of their authors: to discourage you, to disorganize
you, and disorient you. Instead, be conscious of whatever you do,
and be more vigilant, knowing that, in our daily operations of
keeping our country safe and secure, there are vicious forces
(abroad, and at home) who are not happy with what the country
has achieved, and are fighting, and hoping that we fail. They are
using whatever weapons, including misusing the power of
the camera and the pen to target, focus and fault us. Deny
them the opportunity by being even more smart and professional

especially in handling provocative attacks during public disorders

and riots.

Gen Kale Kayihura

Inspector General of Police
8th December 2015