Deployed Officers Not Permitted to Conceal Faces says Minister Muhoozi

The State Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi, has stated that security officers are not permitted to cover their faces while on operations to ensure clear identification. 

This clarification comes in response to concerns raised by Members of Parliament (MPs) regarding the Kawempe North incident, where security officers from the Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce (JATT) were seen engaging with the public while concealing their faces.

The security officers were deployed during the Kawempe North by-election campaigns.

Minister Muhoozi  while appearing before the defense and internal Affairs committee emphasized that such actions are unacceptable and violate the standard operating procedures for security personnel.

“If you are enforcing the law you must be properly identified, and we said we guide we have rules of engagement written, booklets to officers, so we shouldn’t tire in our quest to ensure that we enforce the law and we enforce it according to the dictates.” The minister told the committee.

The Minister also expressed his regret to the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and the public for the disproportionate use of force by the JATT officers.

In a related matter, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Abbas Byakagaba, assured the committee that action would be taken against the Wandegeya District Police Commander (DPC), who has been accused by MP Kiwanuka Abudala of assaulting him on camera.

“We don’t take any indiscipline lightly whatever happened contravening the law is regrettable… processes are already going on and we shall not favour anybody and the law will take its course.”  Byakagaba stated.