Latest news with #KahindaOtafiire
Zawya
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson received H.E. Kahinda Otafiire, President of the Global Pan-African Movement & Minister of Internal Affairs of Uganda
This afternoon, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission, received H.E. Kahinda Otafiire, President of the Global Pan-African Movement&Minister of Internal Affairs of Uganda. Discussions focused on the enduring mandate of the Pan-African Movement&preparations for its forthcoming Congress. They both underscored the Movement's historic role in nurturing African identity, unity,&laying the OAU. The Chairperson reaffirmed the AU Commission's support for the upcoming Congress and welcomed efforts to revitalise Pan-African ideals in today's global context. They also exchanged views on regional peace&security, highlighting the importance of coordinated action among AU Member States in advancing preventive diplomacy, mediation,&peace operations. The Chairperson acknowledged Uganda's vital role in promoting stability®ional cooperation. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
Zawya
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Uganda: Clean up payroll of police officers, Members of Parliament (MPs) tell minister
Lawmakers have tasked the Ministry of Public Service to clean up the payroll of police officers in a bid to put an end to complaints of unpaid salaries of officers. The Members of Parliament made the demands while responding to a statement of the Minister of Defence and Internal Affairs, Gen. Kahinda Otafiire that was presented by Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (Industry), Hon. David Bahati during plenary sitting on Thursday, 17 April 2025. The minister said that some officers have not been paid due to a mismatch in names and dates of birth. 'In 2023, the Auditor General conducted a validation exercise for all government employees. Some officers failed to meet validation requirements due to missing national identification cards, discrepancies in names and dates of birth. These officers were categorised as partially validated,' Bahati said. He added that data migration from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPS) to Human Capital Management System (HCM) has also played a role in delaying salary payment of some officers. 'Salaries on HCM are paid first then the process of payment on IPPS starts; this is to avoid double payments. The two systems however, do not cause missing salaries but delays for those still on IPPS. The process is underway to ensure all are migrated to the HCM system,' he said. The matter had been earlier raised by the Tororo District Woman MP, Hon. Sarah Opendi who tasked the minister to provide a list of the affected officers and timeline of completion of migration of the systems. 'If you look at the audit report, we shall find un-utilised salaries of police officers. The police officers cannot come for fear of victimisation. Let the Minister of Public Service explain why the integration of this system is taking long,' she said. The Minister of State for Public Service, Hon. Grace Mugasa said that the migration is ongoing adding that it is aimed at ridding the system of ghost workers. 'We noticed many ghost workers were on the payroll and government is losing an estimated Shs5 billion per annum,' she said. The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi however, said that the matter should be resolved within a week, given its gravity. 'Police officers are brutalising people because they are angry. These people earn very meagre salaries that they can barely get through with their lives. We task government to deal with this matter,' Ssenyonyi said. Hon. Godfrey Onzima (NRM, Aringa North County) wondered why government keeps changing payment systems saying that such changes are to blame for missing salaries. 'You [Public Service Ministry] introduce a system that works for only three years and change. Why don't they use systems that work for at least 10 years,' Onzima asked. Hon. Rosemary Nyakikongoro (NRM, Sheema District) said that it is unfair for officers to miss their salaries as a result of government's inadequacies. 'It is mandatory for one to have a national identification card before they are recruited. How is it then possible that when it is time to pay, you say they don't have identification cards?' she asked. Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa directed the Minister of Public Service to provide a comprehensive statement within two. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
Zawya
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Police to recruit 10,000 constables ahead of general elections
As country gears up for the 2026 general elections, the Uganda Police Force (UPF) is seeking Shs157 billion in the 2025/2026 financial year budget to cater for recruitment of probation police constables (PPCs). Uganda is slated to hold general elections in January 2026 and the Under Secretary, of the force, Aggrey Wunyi said that if law and order is to be upheld in the during the election period, 10,000 constables are required. He however was concerned that the proposed allocation of Shs58 billion to recruit the PPCs leaves a shortfall of Shs99 billion which he says may compromise the peace and security of the citizenry during elections. The Undersecretary made the request while appearing before the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs to present the force's budget request on Tuesday, 25 March 2025. The Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen. Kahinda Otafiire led the team of security offices to the meeting chaired by Hon. Wilson Kajwengye Wunyi also warned that the police officers may find difficulties in carrying out motorised patrols during the elections because out of the Shs189 billion required to procure fuel, only Shs55 billion has been allocated. He added that election-related investigations will also be affected, saying that out of the required Shs60 billion, only Shs6.4 billion is being allocated. 'There will be need for quick investigations to resolve cases that arise during elections and yet we have a very big funding shortfall,' said Wunyi. The Inspector General of Police, Abbas Byakagaba said that the budget shortfalls affect the force's mandate to effectively keep law and order. He attributed the shortfalls to lack of funds from other programmes saying that under the pragmatic approach to planning and budgeting, UPF's mandate cuts across almost all National Development Plan IV programmes but only receives funding from three progammes. 'My appeal to this committee is to advocate for UPF to be considered for funding from other relevant NDP IV programmes. This will cover shortfalls in the force's budget,' said Byakagaba. Kahinda Otafiire on the other hand applauded the force for ensuring reduction in the crime rate, saying cases dropped from 228,074 in 2023 to 218,715 in 2024. 'With your support for the expansion of the CCTV surveillance system in rural areas and with other interventions such as implementation of sub county policing model, I want to assure you that cases of criminality will be contained,' Otafiire said. Committee Chairperson, Kajwengye pointed out the importance of adequately funding the police in the run up to the elections. '2025/2026 is of significance. It is a year where we shall have elections to underpin our democratic credentials as a country and when we talk about elections, then the role of police is at the core,' said Kajwengye. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
