By Andrew Irumba
Kampala: Several police officers are smiling from jaw to jaw because they will soon be cruising new motorcycles.
Spy Uganda has learnt that the Police recently procured at least 100 motorcycles for senior Criminal Investigations officers, so as to ease response to crime scenes and help in fighting crime.
Speaking to journalists at the on-going retreat of more than 200 criminal investigations officers drawn from different parts of the country, CID director Grace Akullo, said the procurement of 100 motorcycles was complete and they would soon be shipped into the country. The locomotives are meant to ease movement of Criminal Investigations Officers (CIDs) and officers-in-charge of police stations in remote areas.
Akullo said she proposed the buying of motorcycles for investigators in remote areas so that they can always be fast when responding to crime scenes. She said Ochola and other directors seconded the idea and motorcycles have already been purchased and imported process is in high gear. However, an insider within the Force revealed to Spy Uganda that the procurement will cost the UPF a whopping Shs1Bn or more if taxes and freight costs are included. On several occasions, the public have always castigated police for delays to arrive at crime scenes. This, according to Akullo has been sometimes caused by lack of faster means to reach crime scenes.
The procurement of 100 motorcycles comes at the time when Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) handed over four double cabin vehicles to CID, Sexual and Gender desk, Child and Family Protection Unit (CFPU). However, it is not yet clear which company exactly scooped the deal to supply the motorcycles to Uganda Police but we shall unveil is as soon as we get in touch with the police’s procurement department.
