The inspector general of police (IGP) Kale Kayihura has asked sub-county and district councils to allocate funds in their budgets to fuel of police vehicles during operations.
 
This, Kayihura says, is to help cover the gaps that will be created by budget cuts in FY 2017/18. The police budget was reduced from Shs 612 billion in FY 2014/15 to Shs 516 billion in the current FY. In FY 2017/18, the budget will be cut further to Shs 506 billion.
 
Police uses Shs 29.8 million litres of diesel and petrol annually without considering fuel used for special operations. Fuel takes more than Shs 100 billion off the police total budget.
 
Kayihura says that although police is trying to ease the movement of officers through offering motorcycles and vehicles to conduct operations and respond to emergencies, the budget cuts have hindered their capacity.
 
Kayihura noted that the low funds have hit the force hard and personally he has been allocated less fuel to execute duties. Kayihura asked the district and sub county councils across the country to allocate funds in their budgets for police operations noting that what they do is meant to maintain law and order in the communities.


General Kayihura made the call on Monday while meeting Local Council officials, officers in charge of police stations, district police commanders and regional police commanders in Savannah, Sezibwa and Wamala regions. The meeting took place at Luweero Diocesan Guest House in Luweero town council.
 
Kayihura however cautioned police officers against unnecessary movements and wastage of fuel meant for operations
 
“Let the districts chip in, there should of course be accountability and some districts are doing this by the way. I can tell you this. Some districts are putting on their budgets fuel to supplement [police] and it is achievable. Even the little fuel that we [police] have we can a lot but a lot of time there is poor management of resources. But for me the answer is, if you can through your innovation, you supplement our budget but also economical use of the resources that you have. Avoid wastage, avoid unnecessary movements, and avoid wastage, sharing of respectively. You can share one vehicle instead of two”, said Kayihura.

Kayihura also rejected the calls by local leaders to deploy more personnel at police stations saying there is no money to recruit more staff. He however noted that the Police Force will deploy Flying Squad to areas in case of specific crimes which need more re-enforcement.
 
Local council officials received Kayihura’s call to fund police operations with mixed reactions. Sam Kigula, the LC 5 chairperson of Nakasongola district says that the district will consider the request in their next budget but asked the police to ensure there is accountability for money given.
 
But Ismail Kasozi Matumbwe, the LC 3 chairperson of Semuto subcounty decried low funding from central government and local revenue. Last week, Kayihura petitioned the speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga over budget cuts.

Gen Kayihura told Kadaga that insufficient funding was hampering police field operations, training, crime investigations, construction of police housing units and forensic laboratory.