By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has called on the institution of police and the government of Uganda to ensure high level of integrity and increased human resources as they move to revive the long disbanded Special Branch Unit.
The Special Branch was disbanded in 2007 and take over by the Internal Security Organization (ISO) on allegation that it was duplicating the work of the former. The unit is believed to be one of the best intelligence units that used professionalism rather than force and torture while gathering information from the suspects and during operations to prevent crimes.
It should be recalled that the for er IGP, Gen. Edward Kale Kayihura abolished the unit after he alleged that it was paying more allegiance to foreign governments, and vowed never to restore it in his reign as IGP.
However, during their 27th Police Council Meeting on Thursday (November 23), at Police headquarters Naguru Kampala, the meeting resolved to revive the unit in police force.
UPC welcomed the endorsement but warned against acts of unprofessionalism likely to affect the unit if no prior arrangements to streamline its role from that of other security agencies are made.
“UPC appeals to government to clearly streamline the role of of the Police Special Branch Unit in the intelligence work such that it is not interfered with by other security agencies as well as ensuring proper resources are made available to facilitate the smooth operation of the unit,” said Sharon Arach Oyat, the UPC spokesperson.
Arach is optimistic about the unit’s capacity to reduce what she terms as “white collar” crime in the country such as forgery, land grabbing by self-seeking individuals.
