KAMPALA, UGANDA: The Inspector General of Police – IGP Martins Okoth Ochola has ordered the Police Director of Legal Services and Human Rights Mr. Erasmus Twarahukwa to work closely with the Judiciary in expediting President Museveni’s proposed reforms in regards to court bail and police bond to capital offenders and theft of livestock.
According to police spokesperson, Mr. Fred Enanga, after the analysis on the two orders, the police will discuss with their partners under the Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) how to implement the President’s order.
“The study on the orders has already started. The implementation involves so many stakeholders in the law and order sector. After our input, we shall share with the public the details,” Mr. Enanga said on Monday during a press briefing at police headquarters in Naguru.
IGP Ochola’s instructions come after Mr. Museveni in his Friday address last week vowed to push for the scrapping of court bail for presumed offenders. The President also wants police to stop releasing such offenders on bond.
‘‘I will not accept the issue of bond by police in cases like murder. I’m going to discuss with the Attorney General to see how we stop this nonsense. On the issue of bail, we are continuing to discuss this with stakeholders and nobody will stop us,’’ Museveni said.
There’s reportedly a number of reforms taking place at the judicial level following the address of the president, regarding tougher bail terms and conditions especially on persons accused of capital cases.
According to the IGP, the proposed reforms by the president are basically directed towards the cause for justice and equality to ensure that some of the dangerous accused persons who pose a danger to the public don’t just find a way back into society.
“The Uganda Police Force welcomes a number of reforms in the judicial sector and remains committed to working with the office of attorney general where our input is required because the safety of the public is required and most important and we believe that the biggest goal is to improve trust, transparency, and accountability which is the backbone to safer communities,” Ochola said in a statement released by spokesperson Fred Enanga on Monday.
“I have instructed the director for legal and human rights to work with the office of the attorney general where police input is required is able to provide that input,”
The president, who has in the recent days been consistent with his quest for the move essentially packaged by him as justice for the victims- said bail is provocative and interferes with security investigations in capital crimes.
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