KAMPALA, UGANDA: The Uganda Police Force has vowed to improve the welfare of its officers countrywide in a move to enable them access better living standards, days after a city lawyer dragged government to court over dilapidated housing facilities of the police officers.
Through his lawyers of Mwina, Wananda & Co. Advocates, Mr. Kalali Stephen last week petitioned the high court in Kampala to declare that all serving police officers are entitled to decent shelter and that the continued poor habitation of police officers in ramshackle building structures infringes on their right to stay in a clean and healthy environment and development, and therefore, action should be taken immediately to give the officers a decent living environment.
READ HERE: Lawyer sues govt over poor housing conditions of police officers
However, three days later, Police has responded with an action plan to improve the officer’s welfare and better their living standards.
The development was confirmed by AIGP Andrew Sorowen during a groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of the parking yard for trucks that deliver building materials at Nsambya duty-free headquarters in Kampala.
AIGP Sorowen reiterated that the government has allocated funds to spearhead this process to all the armed officers with Police inclusive.
“We are taking the issue of welfare of our personnel seriously in terms of office accommodation and housing units.” Echoed the AIGP adding, “This will help them work with morale and perform perfectly police work when rest assured of their families having a comfortable place to sleep.”
On the construction of the parking yard for trucks, Sorowen reiterated that IGP allocated funds to help work upon the yard that will ease deliveries of duty-free materials.
Previously, the trucks used to get stuck during the loading and offloading of building materials.
Additionally, the Assistant Commissioner of Police Haji Sulaiman Kirungi, head duty-free shop appealed to the officers to make use of the available opportunity and construct decent homes.
“All Police officers are welcomed to make use of the available opportunity and construct at a cheaper cost and own decent homes. These materials are tax-free which make it easy for them compared to the market prices.”
He applauded the IGP and the government for the offer to police officers and pledged to guide them in achieving the intended objectives.
Duty free shop has twelve branches throughout the country where officers can go and access building materials at cheaper costs. These include, Kampala, Rwizi,Fortportal, Greater Masaka, Bushenyi, Gulu, Soroti, Kigezi, Hoima, Jinja, Mbale and Arua.
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