The Inspector General of Police, Kale Kayihura has directed the Police Professional Standards Unit (PSU) to reign in on police officers who go with journalists on their operations.
In an August 8th message signed by Okoth Ochola, the Deputy IGP addressed to Joel Aguma, the PSU Commandant, Kayihura notes that “the actions of the officers tantamount to a breach of confidence and disobedience of lawful orders under the police code of conduct.”
He cites the operations by Siraj Bakaleke, the Kampala South Metropolitan Police Commander and Traffick operations on Drink Driving. Recently, Bakaleke moved with journalists in Entebbe and Kampala where he picked up several officers he found sleeping on the job.
Attached to the letter is a circular, Kayihura issued in 2013 listing police spokesperson, the deputy spokesperson, regional spokesperson and the Directors as the official communicators of the force.
“Despite the above, unauthorized police officers have continued to either release information to the media or involve the media in operations. Examples can be made of the recent operation by the regional police commander Kampala South and traffic operations on drink driving,” reads the letter in part.
