On 01 Dec 2022, the Directorate of Crime Intelligence in partnership with the Ghetto Youth Coordinators launched a two-week operation in Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono aimed at recovering illegal Military/police attires from the public.
This followed incidents of aggravated robbery, kidnap, illegal roadblocks at night, house breakings, etc in which the perpetrators were reportedly putting on attires that resemble military or police uniforms. Besides, illegal possession and or use of military attires contravenes Sections 160, 161 and 164 of the UPDF Act, 2005.
This operation has been Ghetto youth led in our effort to put the people at the centre of national security, while promoting community policing and civil-police cooperation. To that end, the ghetto youth coordinators in Kampala, Wakiso, Nansana and Mukono were tasked with collection of the illegal attires from the public and hand them over to territorial Police.
The operation was planned to be conducted in Two phases. Phase 1, which commenced on 01 Dec 2022 and ended on 15 Dec 2022 was the voluntary handing over phase in which each shirt or trouser handed over was bought back at 10,000/= to allow the owners to buy a replacement. The owners of the illegal attires were also assured of protection from prosecution provided they handed over the items within the 14 days grace period.
By the end of Phase 1, the following items have been collected:
| S/NO | ITEM | UPDF | UPF | LOOK ALIKE | TOTAL |
| 1. | Trousers | 26 | 27 | 597 | 650 |
| 2. | Skirts | – | 01 | 103 | 104 |
| 3. | Shirts | 25 | 21 | 86 | 132 |
| 4. | T-Shirts | 01 | – | 340 | 341 |
| 5. | Sweaters | 04 | 01 | 38 | 43 |
| 6. | Shorts | – | – | 38 | 38 |
| 7. | Dresses | – | – | 18 | 18 |
| 8. | Jackets | 01 | – | 206 | 207 |
| 9. | Warm suits | – | 05 | – | 05 |
| 10. | Ponjos | 08 | – | – | 08 |
| 11. | Overalls | – | 01 | 02 | 03 |
| 12. | Rain coats | 02 | – | – | 02 |
| 13. | Vests | – | – | 07 | 07 |
| 14. | Caps | 17 | 08 | 136 | 161 |
| 15. | Helmet | – | 01 | – | 01 |
| 16. | Boots | 03 | 04 | 12 | 19 |
| 17. | Batons | 02 | 01 | 02 | 05 |
| 18. | Walkie-talkie | 01 | – | – | 01 |
| 19. | Belts | 10 | 01 | 04 | 15 |
| 20. | Pips (Lieutenant) | 01 | – | – | 01 |
| 21. | Bags | 05 | – | 22 | 27 |
| 22. | Back Pack | 03 | – | – | 03 |
| 23. | Bottles | 02 | 01 | – | 03 |
| 24. | Camel bag | 02 | – | – | 02 |
| 25. | Live PK Ammos | 01 | – | – | 01 |
| 26. | Plastic ammos | 03 | – | 34 | 37 |
| 27. | Tear gas canister | – | 01 | – | 01 |
| 28. | Pepper spray | – | 02 | – | 02 |
| 29. | Pistol | – | – | 01 | 01 |
| 30. | Holster | – | 01 | – | 01 |
| 31. | Sling riffle | 01 | – | – | 01 |
| 32. | Handcuff keys | – | 01 | – | 01 |
| 33. | Ground sheet | 01 | – | – | 01 |
| 34. | Mattress cover | – | – | 01 | 01 |
| 35. | Bandanas | – | – | 21 | 21 |
| 36. | Mosquito nets | 01 | – | – | 01 |
| GRAND TOTAL | 120 | 77 | 1,668 | 1,865 | |
Following the End of Phase I, the Police with the support of the sister security agencies has embarked on Phase II during which anyone found in possession or use of military/ police uniforms or attires that resemble such uniforms will be arrested and charged.
I wish to thank the public for having supported the operation by willingly handing over thousands of these illegal attires, and the ghetto youth coordinators for having worked closely with the territorial Police Divisions to ensure the success of the operation.
I appeal to the public to desist from buying or acquiring such illegal attires as their possession promotes insecurity and is illegal. The public is urged to report illegal possession of such items to Police and other Sister Security Forces for immediate retrieval.
The dealers who transact in used and new clothes that resemble Military attires are hereby advised to stop it forthwith, and hand over such items to the Police or other security agencies to avoid unnecessary consequences.
Police and the UPDF have instituted stringent measures to ensure full control and accountability for the stores in the possession of their personnel’s and will continue to work closely with the public to promote security of Ugandans.
I wish all Ugandans a peaceful Christmas and happy new year.
CS Damulira psc(j)(UK), psc+(U), pscj+(SA), fndu (USA)
AIGP
For: Inspector General of Police
