President Museveni tells CID Officers to fight crime to ensure socio-economic transformation

President Yoweri Museveni has voiced the need to strengthen peace and security in order for Uganda to continue achieving desired socio-economic transformation.

“If there is rampant crime, there will be no socio-economic transformation," he said in his lecture of opportunity to 67 Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) Police officers.

This was on Tuesday at State House, Entebbe.

"We must have peace and a crime-free society," added Museveni.

"If there is crime and insecurity, investors cannot come here because the cost of doing business is very high. CID officers have got a very critical role in shaping socio-economic transformation."

He cited places in Kampala such as Munyonyo and Kansanga, which have drawn foreigners who are now running successful businesses due to the comparatively peaceful environment.

“These people are wealth creators and need peace, so they do not run away to take their businesses elsewhere.”

Museveni reminded the officers to do their work keeping in mind the ideology of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) that is anchored on the four principles of patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation and democracy.

“This little war is against thieves, and you can deal with them, but you must start by being clean yourselves."

The President further noted that the only way Africa can have a prosperous life is to engage in production of a good or a service and sell it as opposed to begging.

He urged all Ugandans must get involved in the four sectors of wealth creation: commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT.

Museveni thanked the Police authorities for listening to his advice to continue training their officers.

“It is good to have these courses to know not only how to fight crime, but also the vision of society of how the future should be.

"Political management is like medicine. If the patient is to be saved, the doctor must get the diagnosis correct,” he said, adding that many African countries are unstable because they are not able to diagnose their problems properly.

The Director of Criminal Investigations, AIGP Maj. Tom Magambo Rwabudongo, informed the President that they have made progress on high-profile cases and corruption despite elements of intimidation.

He said they have gone ahead to set up a complaints desk at the CID headquarters in Kibuli and a toll-free line will soon be installed for members of the public to directly contact them.

AIGP Godfrey Golooba, Police's director of human resource development, thanked Museveni for the trust he put in them to professionalize the force.

He further briefed the President that the three months’ refresher course on criminal investigations and intelligence at Kabalye Police Training School has been successful and another batch of 77 officers will report for a similar course this Saturday (May 13).

The ceremony was attended by among others; Assistant Commissioner of Police Emitu Ezekiel and the Director CID Training School Kabalye, Ramathan Doka.