By Gad Masereka
Kampala: Uganda Police Force (UPF) have lowered the academic qualifications for recruitment of constables from Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (A-level) to Ordinary Level Certificate (Senior Four) in order to maximize retention, pressure for better deployment and promotion from constables, especially those who upgrade and obtain degrees and indiscipline.
According to Fred Enanga the Police spokesperson, lowering of academic qualifications for constables was informed by a study done by the police’s Directorate of Human Resource Development.
“The study found out that constables with Senior Six academic certificates were a bit low on productivity and also use the police as a springboard to other careers,” Mr Enanga said
Early August, the force will recruit at least 4,000 constables and 500 learner assistant inspectors of police (AIPs) countrywide and the minimum education requirement for AIPs is a diploma in information technology, nursing and forensic sciences.
Enanga also explained A-level recruits were pressuring the force with better standards of service and due to lack of patience, many desert leaving the force depleted.
Mr Enanga said the study also found that recruits with Ordinary Level qualification have more passion compared to their counterparts with A-level.
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into corruption in the Uganda Police
Force report released in May 2000 recommended raising the minimum education
level of constables from O-level to A-level.
“With regard to recruitment, the commission found that the minimum
qualification of O-level is no longer sufficient and this was exemplified inter
alia by the poor caliber of officers who could hardly speak English during the
proceedings,” the commission report reads in part.
The commission led by Justice Julia Sebutinde also “noted numerous examples
of case files where statements were poorly recorded due to low level of English
proficiency of the officers concerned.”
To improve the quality of police officers, the commission recommended that not
more than 500 should be recruited in a year.
However, this year’s recruitment numbers are nine times those that were
recommended by the Commission.
