Police to continue operations against illegal possession of military wear

 

The Uganda Police force has revealed that they will carry on with thier operation countrywide targeting individuals who are in possession of military wear, arrest and charge them in the courts of law.

In today's media brief, Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga emphasised that police will arrest and charge individuals found illegally posessing berets, military boots, peeps, military uniform and other military resembling wears.

This follows a ride that was carried out by a joint security team last week on several places including the National Unity Platform offices in  Kamwokya and over 80 people were arrested in possession of military attire.

The unlawful  use of military attire by civilians has been popularised by the National Unity Platform political party which was formed out of the People Power movement pressure group  which emerged in 2018. This became a worry to security agencies as criminals started masquerading as security personnel.

In 2019,The dress code for the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) was gazetted.

In a notice released by  UPDF in 2019, it was  stated that ” the public is hereby informed that the marks, accessories, insignia, decorations and uniforms specified in the schedule to this notice are property of the State or classified stores and anyone found in unlawful possession, selling or dealing in them shall be prosecuted under the Uganda People’s Defence Forces Act, 2005.”

However, many people especially National Unity Platform members didn't adhere to the warning and continued wearing military attire prompting the further action by the security agencies which  include arresting any one found in possession of such attire.

Mr Deo Akiiki, the UPDF deputy spokesperson, also explained that “Such behaviour where you find civilians wearing attires that have the same design and colour of the military may make those people start running military groups. It started slowly but it had continued and our operation had to come at any time.”