48 police officers apply to serve as SOCOs

By THE INDEPENDENT UG

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Forty-eight police officers have submitted applications to be regraded to the Directorate of Forensic Science (DFS) for the role of Scene of Crime Officers (SOCOs).

SOCOs are police officers specifically trained in scene preservation, evidence collection, exhibit packaging, exhibit transportation, and exhibit storage.

According to an invitation by the Acting Director of the Directorate of Forensic Science, Andrew Mubiru, the 48 police officers will undergo a three-day personal review exercise that commenced on Thursday. The purpose is to assess their forensic abilities before being recruited and sent for further training.

Among the applicants, three hold the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), one is at the rank of Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP), one is a Sergeant (SGT), one a Corporal (CPL), while 42 are Police Constables. Most of the applicants reportedly possess certificates and diplomas in science-related fields and have served in police health services or under criminal investigations departments.

It is understood that the Directorate of Forensic Science, headed by Mubiru, had expressed the need for at least 2,640 forensic experts, including SOCOs and exhibits analysts, to implement the Subcounty-based policing model suggested by President Yoweri Museveni in 2019.

President Museveni proposed that it would be more effective and economical to station an adequate number of police officers at the Subcounty level to respond to security emergencies, rather than clustering them in small police posts and booths.

To realize the proposed Sub-County model, each station requires a SOCO, a CID commander, traffic officers, a Field Force Unit, and general duty police officers. Presently, the DFS has 611 forensic experts, indicating a deficit of over 2,000 forensic scientists.

Andrew Mubiru emphasized that a well-trained forensic scientist can examine a crime scene, conduct forensic tests, and provide evidence crucial for the successful prosecution of a criminal.

Among the police officers invited for SOCO reviews are ASP Soulman Arinaitwe from Bwebajja Police Station, ASP Emmanuel Bagenda from Kalangala Police Station, ASP Arinda Moses Kabanza from Entebbe Police Station, AIP Elly Mukisa, Sgt Alfred Egwang, and Cpl Patrick Okot.

Inspector General of Police Martins Okoth Ochola mentioned that the Subcounty policing model is in advanced stages of implementation, starting with the Greater Masaka Region. Under this model, each sub-county will receive a vehicle, motorcycles, radio equipment, and a personnel strength of 18.