The Uganda Police Force is retiring more than 1000 officers on medical grounds, the Directorate of Health Services has reportedly signed off.
The affected officers of different ranks – two per cent of the 45,000 strong Uganda PoliceForce were reportedly taken to Police Training School Kabalye in Masindi District last month and examined by medical officers who deemed them no longer fit to serve thus the need to leave only those physically fit in service.
The layoff exercise has been confirmed by Dr. Moses Byaruhanga, the director Police Health Services who said most of those going to be laid off having chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and others.
The second phase of the medical assessment of 96 affected officers began at Mulago National Referral Hospital yesterday and will end on Friday.
These who will be retired in the whole exercise receive retirement benefits basing on their ranks and years of service and TheUgandan understands over Shs20 billion will be coughed out as the least rank, a constable, in this case, is poised to bag Shs20m.
Frail-looking Kayihura silent
Speculation about Inspector General of Police Gen Kale Kayihura’s health gained traction on social media and some online publications after a local daily reported that he was bedridden in India. A highly-placed government source intimated to a local daily that Gen Kayihura had been hospitalised, but declined to divulge the details due to sensitivity of the matter. However, his claim could not be independently verified. A frail looking Kayihura was to return after a fortnight’s absence but no longer regularly features in the Ugandan media like before, including some dramatic instances when he is captured on video reprimanding his subordinates during spot-checks.
