A video in circulation on social media has exposed a transportation black market racket in police with one of its officer eating big from desperate travellers.
In the viral video, a police van with the Uganda Police Force licence plate is seen dropping off passengers at an unspecified point along a certain Kampala street.
The street could not be easily identifiable in the video.
Also agents/ brokers seemingly hired to connect passengers to the unscrupulous police man can be seen aiding the dangerous trade by leading travellers to the waiting van.
The agents are then seen stealthy receiving a commission of shillings 20,000 which is far fatter than normal. This suggests that the officer must be extending his services at a hiked price.
Unaware he is being recorded by some concerned Ugandans, the police van operator is also seen admitting some traveers into the locomotives after a series of negotiations.
The video has since attracted widespread uproar, with the public protesting the criminality of the people meant to protect them in line with the President’s advise on banning transportation to ensure the safety of Ugandans.
Meanwhile, the police driver has been identified as Sgt/Driver Christopher Opio, and the force has already taken him into custody for misusing their van.
Sgt Opio turned a police van into a commuter taxi to transport people on Saturday a day after President Yoweri Museveni’s ban on private and public transport.
“As the police, we strongly condemn the actions of our driver, which serves to undermine our enforcement efforts in the fight against COVID-19 in the country. The shameful act is also in direct contrast with our fleet management protocols, where all police drivers are as a MUST directed to park their vehicles at their work stations. The errant driver who is attached to the Public Relations Department, did not adhere to the Force instructions,”Uganda Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga said in a statement yesterday.
Enanga also thanked the general public for recording and sharing the video which exposed the gross misconduct of the officer, noting that Uganda Police is a disciplined force which does not condone any misuse of its fleet.
“… Moreso during a critical period of the pandemic, where a good percentage of our fleet including buses, lorries, vans and motorcycles are redirected towards the enforcement of the anti-covid 19 measures.
” We also want to provide maximum assurance to the public that we deal robustly with all forms of indiscipline in the force. The driver was immediately tracked down, as soon as the video footage came to our attention, and arrested from as far as Kole District, enroute to his home District in Alebtong.”
The police mouthpiece further disclosed that Opio is being charged with scandalous behaviour, which attracts a dismissal, disobedience of lawful orders and acting negligently in a manner likely to spread the virus.
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