The Inspector General of Police, Martin Ochola, has ordered for the prosecution of Police Constable Juma Batuka, who allegedly beat up his Sierra Leone colleague during deployment in Somalia under the African Mission in Somalia -AMISOM.
Batuka who has been trending on social media alleging that the police force has frustrated his redeployment 10 months since his return from AMISOM, will have to wait longer as he needs to first settle his prosecution in the force’s disciplinary tribunal. Photo courtesy of PC Batuka
“The police institution and some offices have made it difficult for me to continue serving in the force. It is now 10 months since I returned from AMISOM but I have not been redeployed. I have been emotionally tortured and charged disciplinarily in an illegal kangaroo court,” Batuka laments in the trending social media clips. Call 0754649086 for Hunting Vodka
However, Senior Commissioner of Police, Fred Enanga, who is also the police force spokesperson, said Batuka has to wait until his charges in the disciplinary court have been conclusively heard.
“It is true the officer served his tour of duty under the AMISOM, where his record was found wanting, for assaulting a superior officer from Sierra Leone, and for consuming and dealing in drugs. Where conduct falls below the high standards expected by the force, undisciplined officers are subjected to disciplinary or criminal sanctions,” Enanga said.
The IGP through Enanga has explained that over the years, police officers deployed in peace keeping missions, like Liberia, East Timor, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia, have been viewed with high esteem by both the recipient nations and officers from other contributing countries.
“We would like the public to also know, that when officers are deployed in any mission, they legally remain part of the UPF serving our nation, though practically working under the African Union or United Nations,” police said.
Enanga explained that IGP directed for Batuka’s trial because Sierra Leone wrote to him expressing dissatisfaction with his conduct. Police explains that his behaviour fell below the high standards expected by the mission and the UPF.
“The fact that the Leadership of AMISOM, wrote a misconduct letter, about PC Batuka Juma, to the IGP shows how serious his behavior was. It definately affected part of the trust and confidence the leadership of AMISOM, our counterparts of Sierra Leone had about our performance,” Enanga said.
Police have also explained that Batuka has defied the disciplinary court which was comprised at Police Headquarters. He has however resorted to lobbying several officers for his redeployment, without success, because of the pending disciplinary matter.
Enanga said other additional charges of misconduct including threats of violence against a superior officer under the Directorate of Traffic and Road safety, have been added. Enanga that the force will therefore, continue with the misconduct hearing against PC Batuka Juma, in a fair and transparent manner and will ensure the best course of action is undertaken. Failure to appear before the disciplinary court will further taint his record.
“We would like to use this opportunity to remind all police officers, that tackling police misconduct and abuse of position are priorities by the leadership of the UPF. Therefore, there’s absolutely no room for complacency, when officers act with impunity, irrespective of whether they are serving abroad or at home,” Enanga said.