Eldard Mugume, the Commissioner of Police for Human Resources, finds himself behind bars in Luzira Prison, charged with abuse of office over the recruitment and promotion of six women as Special Police Constables (SPCs) more than a decade ago.
Documents reviewed by our Reporter reveals a meticulous, approved process, raising questions about whether Mugume is a victim of internal police politics rather than a perpetrator of wrongdoing.
In 2011, the Uganda Police Force was transitioning from a manual to an electronic payroll system, requiring personnel with ICT and human resource expertise. Six university students including Lizzie Namulinda, Aisha Namukasa, Lilly Birungi, Jasper Ekyoheirwe, Pearl Kainembabazi, and Eva Amumpaire were recruited as SPCs, each meeting the minimum Senior Four qualification.
They were hired at a monthly salary of UGX 195,000, with their appointments formalized in a letter dated August 25, 2011, from then-Assistant Inspector General of Police Richard Bisherurwa, acting on behalf of the Inspector General of Police.
Records show the recruitment followed established protocols. On February 13, 2013, the Police Advisory Committee (PAC), a senior decision-making body chaired by then-Deputy Inspector General of Police Martins Okoth Ochola, convened with 16 directors, including Mugume.
The committee approved regrading the six SPCs to Inspectorates of Police, citing their completion of university degrees, which rendered their initial SPC roles outdated. The PAC recommended basic police training to align with their new ranks, a standard requirement for such transitions.
“PAC noted the need for the officers to undergo the basic police training as they are going to be given police ranks. PAC adopted the presentation and referred the matter to the relevant committee to make the necessary appointment of the six graduate SPCs to inspectorates,”reads the minutes
Records indicate that two weeks later, on February 27, 2013, a follow-up committee, chaired by Commissioner Patrick Isabirye and with Lillian Waidha as secretary, reaffirmed the regrading. Mugume was not present at this meeting. The committee, noting staffing shortages in the Human Resources section and the women’s strong performance, finalized their promotions, again mandating police training to ensure compliance with police regulations.
Since their regrading, the six women have progressed within the force, with some rising to Assistant Superintendent of Police. Others have secured roles in government institutions, such as the Ministry of ICT and Mulago National Referral Hospital, through Public Service Commission interviews.
Documents signed by Dr. Steven Paul Kagoda, Permanent Secretary to the Police Authority, and Vincent Waiswa Bagire, former ICT Permanent Secretary, confirm these appointments followed due process.
The charges against Mugume, filed in the Anti-Corruption Court, allege he unilaterally recruited and promoted the six women in 2013. However, the documented approvals by PAC and subsequent committees appear to contradict this claim.
The regrading of SPCs is a long-standing practice within the Uganda Police Force to address staffing needs, prompting questions about why this case is now being framed as criminal. Sources familiar with police operations, speaking anonymously due to the case’s sensitivity, suggest Mugume’s position as a civilian in a senior role may have made him a target.
They allege some officers sought to manipulate HR records, such as amending birth dates to extend service beyond mandatory retirement age. Mugume’s resistance to such practices may have created adversaries, though these claims remain unverified. The prosecution’s case hinges on proving Mugume acted alone, a narrative challenged by the documented involvement of multiple senior officers and committees.
As Mugume awaits his next court appearance on September 2, 2025, the case raises broader questions about accountability and internal dynamics within the Uganda Police Force. Is this a genuine effort to curb corruption, or does it reflect deeper tensions within the institution? The answers remain unclear, but the evidence suggests a complex story beyond the charges.
For now, Mugume’s fate rests with the courts, as the public watches a case that may reveal as much about the police force’s inner workings as it does about one man’s actions.
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