By Spy Uganda
Netizens have ‘torn’ Uganda police leadership into pieces wondering wheather the bosses have been sleeping when TVs have been advertising herbal drink-manufacturing company, Mukama Nayamba including police van among other contents for the last two years.
Netizen’s anger was triggered by police’s statement released condemning the use of its image in such commercial adverts.
The advert deceptively suggests that police’s emergence team of the “999” Patrol Pick-Up and its crew actively responded to an incident where a pack of “Mukamanayamba” energy drink was grabbed by an alleged thief, during the recording of the advert which according to Police is controversial on the following grounds;
That the appearance of officers in uniforms and the use of police logistics for work outside police duty is strictly prohibited without the express permission of the IGP. Also Police say that these officers for their selfish gains appeared for a commercial advertisement without such approval and are a subject of investigation by the Professional Standards Unit.
In addition, police say that the advert deceptively suggests that the police leadership endorsed the product of “Mukamanayamba” and further supports the campaign to market, sell and drink the product. ”This false impression created by the advert is defamatory since it is not representative of the police institution.” says Police.
”As a result, we demand that the commercial firm, pulls out the police content or the entire advert, and halts any further displays on TV and Radios. Failure to do so will call for sanctions in the civil court of law. The Directorate Legal and Human Rights Services has also petitioned the Uganda Communications Commission on the unauthorized usage of our image and content in the Commercial Adverts,” says Police.
However, netizens could not wait to throw rotten eggs to police as briefly summarized below;
1.Seth Gabriel; What’s wrong with respondinging to an emergency!
Another thing, this advert is 1 and ahalf years old. Have you guys seen it just now?
2. Akandwanaho Richard: After probably the company refusing to give you bribes, you now swing into action, two or three years down the road, if you can’t respect the Police Force, at least Respect our nation Uganda. Mushwareho nimwe.
3. Oj Walters Snr: The advert has been running for over 3 months and police has just woken up. But allowing the forces to participate in community friendly adverts who actually improve the image of the police to the common man. Police shouldn’t only wait for comedians to act about them in the name of Afande Opio while doing corruption related activities on the highways, they should actually participate in some of these adverts as part of community policing.
4. Chriss Atwiine Sunday: The more you make UPF too special from whom it serves, the more you will lack intelligence from the same citizens you serve.
5. Hon Kasule Onesimu BazannyaN’engo: Nothing wrong with this, we hv seen so many dramma/film and music videos where police becomes part of acting, and its every where in the world.
6. Micheal Mugs: I condemn the Uganda Police Force s inability to a people’s force, its inability to accommodate humour, its inability to be with and for the people…btw mukamanayamba is a positive PR side of police…otherwise we shall only police for unnecessary beatings and tear gas……leave the super seriousness and strictness for the other military fatigues……your a people’s force….
7. Jaramogi Andrew Okoth: And what is wrong with that if someone raises a case of robbery, it’s the duty of the police to respond and by the way you even need to praise the developer of the advert because by assuming that police responded people can now believe that police actually responds when informed of any incident be robbery or any other incident.
8. Sajja Isimail: This z the Uganda Police Force we all know, so they have been Investigating for almost 4years while the Advert was still Running on public medias, for this I think they should console themselves coz for us we have more than enough Problems.
9. Mulyanti Lameck: Me I don’t see any problem with that, stop being petty, I see no violation of anything here instead you should be getting a tip from the mukamanayamba company. If it was a crime, then all movie stars worldwide would be battling the same coz we see FBI, SWAT, CIA, territorial police cars etc in movies but have never had a crime opened against them.
10. Joseph Mbiro Junior: I think the duration of contract you might have signed to participate in the advert must have signed must have expired and now you come out to write this after all that long when it has been running!!! Hooooooo or maybe sorry, you might not have seen the advert since you sleep in dilapidated houses with no electricity for months yet the family u serve eats big.
