The European Union (EU) has partnered with Interpol and Police in Uganda to train a group of police officers in criminal intelligence analysis as a way to effectively address organized crime.
Under its Enhancing Africa’s Response to Transnational Organised Crime (ENACT) project, the EU has invested 14.5 million Euros to train officers from African countries including Uganda, Sudan, Eritrea, Malawi, Niger and Congo.
The trainees who include field agents and analysts will acquire skills in crime intelligence analysis and capacity to assess large amounts of information attained from various sources.
The five day training program is being held at Imperial Golf Course View Hotel in Entebbe.
ENACT is implemented by a partnership of expert organisations, namely the Institute for Security Studies and Interpol, in affiliation with the Global Initiative against Transnational Organised Crime.
Speaking at the opening of the training on Monday, the Governance Adviser for the EU Delegation in Uganda, Dr Christian Raitz Von Frentz said that transnational organized crime has become a serious threat to good governance, peace and development, and can only be averted through such capacity building.
“In 2011, organized crime cost Africa USD 3.3 billion in trafficking of illegal arms, wildlife crime and human trafficking. The ENACT project looks to mitigate the impact of transnational organized crime on rule of law,” Frenzt said.
The Inspector General of Police Gen Kale Kayihura lauded the EU and Interpol for the initiative to strengthen Uganda and the region’s criminal intelligence, which he admitted has been an area of deficit.
“This is what we need and it is timely because we are battling with violent criminality including murder and use of drugs. Building our capacity in criminal intelligence is critical especially in our model of community policing,” the IGP said.
He commended the idea of focusing on supporting the capacity of Uganda but also neighbouring countries.
Kayihura however asked that the project incorporates an aspect of training trainees to ensure sustainability and to increase the beneficiaries.
Interpol was represented by Nathalie Richarol Bomber who acts as the ENACT Project Coordinator. In her remarks, she pointed out that Interpol will provide critical equipment and software to countries like Uganda in order to establish their own intelligence analytical units.
Interpol plans to have this program included in the training of police officers in the different countries.
The event was attended by Uganda Police’s Director of Interpol, Fred Yigga, Director of CID, Grace Akulo and Directors of Counter Terrorism and Crime Intelligence.