The Human Resource Management Department of the Uganda police force came into existence in the year 2001.before that, it was originally known as the department of the personnel; management and headed by the Assistant commissioner of police(ACP). Right now like any other department in the police force and in the public service as well, it is headed by the commissioner. The department has two main sections. These are the personnel and welfare sections which are being headed by the assistant commissioners who are members of the civilian staff.

The Uganda police have under gone two main restructuring processes over the last decade. The first one in the year 2001, created twenty five (25) departments and introduced the rank of commissioner of police to be heads of the departments. It also created five (5) Directors and introduced the rank of Assistant inspector general of police (AIGP) to head them. Under this structure, the human resource department fell under the directorate of administration. In the year 2008 a major4 restructure was undertaken in which the directors were expanded top eleven(11) including Kampala metropolitan police and fifty eight (58) departments. in the new structure , the department of the human resource development and human resource management were merged to form one directorate. The process of operationalising the structure is however underway and will be accomplished progressively.

FUNCTIONS:

The department caries out a number of support functions that are essential for the efficient operation of the force. These include: Recruiting personnel into the Uganda police force. Recruitment is the entry point for the staff or personnel in an organization. It is therefore very important that this exercise is managed effectively to ensure that the right equality of the personnel is recruited. The Uganda police force conduct regular recruitment exercise depending on the vacancies’ available and the finance to support it. The exercise is mainly conducted at two levels;

a) The lower level in which the probationer police constables (PPCs) are recruited. Here then minimum requirements have been;

i) One must be a citizen of Uganda.

ii) Should be between the ages of between 18 and 25 years.

iii) Must have not been convicted of any criminal offence.

iv) Must be of good character and also recommended by the local authorities.

V) Must have minimum educational standards of senior six.

vi) Must be physically and medically fit.

It is therefore very important that during the recruitment exercise, every stake holder cooperates and provides the correct information in order to select the right candidates The latest recruitment in that category into the Uganda police force was conducted in the year 2007 in which 4274 PPCs were recruited and trained.

b) Recruitment at the higher level

This is mainly the entry point for the university graduates, who are recruited as cadet assistant superintendents of police (C/ASPs). Here, the recruitment is done by the police authority in liaison with the public service. The last recruitment of cadets was done in the year 2007 in which 428 cadets were recruited and trained. This was so far the largest number of cadets to be recruited at ago in the history of Uganda police force.

DISCIPLINE

Discipline is paramount in the Uganda police force every police is always expected to exhibit conduct within and outside the organization. The police have a strict code of conduct which every officer must abide by. The police act, police standing order, and the government standing orders form the basis upon which the code is derived. The police act establishes the police disciplinary court in which a police officer up to the rank of senior superintendent of police (SSP) can be tried in after committing a disciplinary offence. Any person therefore can lodge a complaint against misconduct by a police officer and such an officer can be tried accordingly.

With regard to officers from the rank of assistant commissioner of police (ACP) and above, their discipline is handled by the police authority whose chairman is the minister of internal affairs. Police officers who commit criminal offences are subjected to criminal proceedings irrespective of the ranks. Other functions of the department can be mentioned briefly as follows;

1) Promoting: the police council promotes officers up to the rank Inspector of police (IP) above which is the responsibility of the police authority.Selection for promotion is always done on merit after fulfilling the necessary requirements. Basic requirements include good discipline and the ability to take on further responsibility among others. Promotion courses followed by examinations one conducted before successful candidates are promoted by the police council.

2) Personal welfare: the department handles the issues of saklaries in cliasion with the department of finance and ensures that every officer is currently paid and on time. It alson deals with case3s of officers who are sick by considering appropriate deployments,providing councelling services ,extending financial support for treatment.the department also takes care of the burial expenses for officers or their immediate families who pass away.for officers who leave the foprce for one or the other ,the department help process necessary benefits or documents for those entitled. <<Return Home