Members of Parliament sitting on Defence committee have expressed discomfort with the amount of fuel given to District Police Commanders (DPCs) to carry on intelligence and operations in the respective districts.
The concern was raised during an interface with officials from the Police led by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mario Obiga Kania and the IGP, Martin Okoth Ochola who had appeared before the committee to respond to a number of issues.
The Police Undersecretary, Rogers Muhirwe informed the committee that a tune of Shs 900,000 is allocated to DPCs every month as fuel allowances which is an equivalent of Shs 30,000 per day.
The MPs noted this is so scandalous adding that the fuel is so little to make it possible for DPCs to surveil the entire district hence leaving the intelligence in balance.
They noted that the lack of adequate investigations has led to the increased criminality in the country as perpetrators remain at large.
Butambala county MP, Muhamad Muwanga Kivumbi said that however much will be invested in security including erecting security cameras and recruiting LDUs when the simple things that hamper work are not solved, insecurity will not be fought to its core.
The current fuel budget for police stands at Shs 23bn and these request for an increment of Shs 12bn to successfully do their intelligence work.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police martin Okoth Ochola admitted that there is laxity in the intelligence department but noted that they are rebuilding the Crime Intelligence Directorate to fully handle the foundation of security that is still lacking.
“We are as well rebuilding human capacity and getting adequate equipment for them so that we regain that former state of intelligence but I admit there is lack of foundation in the security which is being worked on,” Ochola said.
