Police fleet increases by 1,800 vehicles, motorcycles in three years

Kampala, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT |  The police fleet has increased by 1,800 vehicles and motorcycles in the last three years. This is according to a report addressed to the Minister of Internal Affairs Gen Jeje Odongo.

The report which was prepared by the Director Operations Services Edward Osiru Ochom and AIGP Asan Kasingye, the then director researching and planning indicates that the force’s fleet has grown to 9,226 up down from 7,410 since 2017.

“We have increased our fleet from 7410 to 9226. These are composed of 1228 general-purpose vehicles, 186 specialized vehicles, 19 construction vehicles, 7736 motorcycles, 53 marine vessels,” reads the document.

Apart from vehicle fleet, police force also boasts of three helicopters and one fixed-wing aircraft which the institution says has enabled it to deal with emergencies. Deputy Inspector General of Police Maj Gen Stephen Muzeeyi Sabiiti commissioned the new helicopters in 2018.

Although fleet has grown, there has always been public criticism on the delay by the police to respond to emergencies such as accident scenes where police take hours to arrive, rescue victims or even removed dead bodies.

Dr Moses Byaruhanga who is also director police medical services in a recent interview with Uganda Radio Network –URN said delays happen because some places are a bit far from the main police station.

“If an incident happens maybe in Lukaya [along Masaka Road], an Ambulance that is attached at Buwama [in Mpigi] will have to drive over 20 kilometres to reach the scene. But in the eyes of the public that will not be considered. They will say police delayed to reach,” Byaruhanga said.

The Police leadership attributes the fleet growth to Justice Law and Order Sector –JLOS and some embassies that have been donating several motor vehicles to the force.

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URN