The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Martin Okoth Ochola has been accused of impunity, and corruption among other things for accepting five police directors to keep their offices even after their contracts expired.
On the instructions of Tayebwa Martin, an advocate of the High Court of Uganda, through CREDO Advocates, the IGP faces legal action if the said police directors still hold office two days after receipt of a legal document dated 13th January, 2020.
“It has come to our client’s knowledge that you continue to shelter, give working premises and assign official government duties to these individuals whose tenure of office in Uganda Police has long expired. They have no mandate in law to execute duties purportedly on behalf of Uganda Police or government of Uganda,” reads in part the letter to Ochola.
The five directors holding office illegally are; Joseph Mugisa(Fire and Rescue Services), Lemmy Twinomujuni(Welfare and Production), Asuman Mugenyi(Operations), Moses Balimwoyo( Interpol and International Relations) and Stephen Kasiima(Traffic).
It should be remembered that last week, the Internal Affairs Minister, Gen.Jeje Odong wrote to Ochola asking him to allow 12 police directors whose contracts have expired to be allowed to stay in office until the Appointing Authority (President Museveni) decided otherwise.
“As you are aware, this matter has not yet been concluded by the Appointing Authority. In order not to disrupt the continuity of service particularly at this time, this is to guide you to allow the concerned/affected officers stay in office until the Appointing Authority determines otherwise,” Gen.Jeje Odong’s letter reads in part.
Gen.Jeje Odong said throwing the directors out of office would disrupt the continuity of service in the police force.
However, according to the lawyers, the Internal Affairs Minister has no locus to “temporarily” keep the affected directors in office without running contracts.
CREDO aAdvocates adds that the affected persons have deputies who can carry on their work until the appointing authority pronounces himself on the matter.
“The excuse of a vacuum doesn’t hold. Any form of emoluments and allowances paid out to these individuals outside the contractual period would be illegal and a form of corruption,” the letter stated.
The letter has also been copied to the Inspectorate of Government and the Deputy Inspector General of Police.