The police officer who was captured on camera being assisted by a civilian to cross raging floods in Kampala City after Friday afternoon downpour, risks losing his rank or dismissal from the police force.
A yet-to-be identified police officer (in uniform) was pictured being carried on shoulders like a sack of potatoes by a civilian on Friday following heavy rains that caused massive floods along Clock Tower Police Station and making the road impassable.
The photograph has since went viral and evoked public criticism over the image of the police force with a section of the public questioning the morality and mandate of police in calamitous situations as such.
Others including the Chief Commissar Uganda Police Force AIGP Asan Kasingye (through his private social media platform) described the scene as “saddening” and disgraceful for a police officer in uniform to be carried on people’s back as a bale of second-hand clothes.
The Deputy PRO Kampala Metropolitan Police, Luke Owoyesigire confirmed that the officers conduct tantamount to “scandalous behavior” which is an offense punishable by law.
According to Section 14(1) of the Police Act, a police officer who behaves in a scandalous manner unbecoming of a police officer commits an offense.
(2) says; a police officer who behaves in a cruel, disgraceful, indecent….is liable on conviction to reduction in rank or dismissal.
Luke Owoyesigire however noted that the Uganda Police Force has not taken interest in the matter, nor has it identified the identities of the police officer.
Former FDC President and strong government critic, Dr Kiiza Besigye, said it is his picture of the week having depicted “a reversal in roles” in Uganda where uniformed servants have turned into a LOAD of Masters “heavily weighing down their malnourished servants/citizens.
It has since been established that the police officer parted with 5,000 to procure services of the young man in order to get to the other side without wetting his pants and boots.
The picture has already received several approvals for pic of the year award.
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