LIRA CITY – The Uganda Police Force has stepped up plans to improve officers’ welfare and strengthen community policing following an inspection of police-owned land in Lira City, North Kyoga Policing Region.
The inspection was led by Senior Commissioner of Police (SCP) Timothy Halango, Deputy Director of Welfare, Production and Sports, who headed a team of senior police officers to assess two pieces of police land at Erute and Ireda.
The land at Erute has been earmarked for the proposed establishment of a Regional Police Secondary School, while the property at Ireda is intended to host a Community Policing Centre of Excellence.
The proposed secondary school is expected to contribute to the welfare of police officers by expanding access to quality education for their children. Education for children of police officers has been identified as part of the Uganda Police Force’s broader welfare priorities.
The planned Community Policing Centre of Excellence, meanwhile, is expected to provide a platform for strengthening community-oriented policing approaches, training and engagement between police officers and the communities they serve.
Community policing remains an important component of the Uganda Police Force’s crime-prevention strategy. Official police performance documents show that the force has been expanding community-policing activities through community outreaches, radio and television programmes, school engagements and other initiatives across the country.
The developments also form part of wider efforts by the Directorate of Welfare, Production and Sports to improve the working and living conditions of police officers and their families. In recent months, the directorate has undertaken initiatives focused on welfare, food security and sustainable livelihoods for officers.
The inspection of the two sites marks an important step in assessing the available land and laying the groundwork for the proposed facilities. Once developed, the projects are expected to support both the welfare needs of police families and the force’s efforts to build stronger partnerships with communities in North Kyoga and beyond.
