The Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen Kahinda Otafiire has issued a three-month ultimatum for the housing projects for the police, immigration and prisons to start or else he will take action against those responsible.
Otafiire said for more than a year, he has been talking about building houses for the police officers, prisons and immigration officers and the inter service committee for housing have been going around in circles like a dog chasing its tail.
Otafiire said he wants the answer within three months and if there is no answer to the police, prison and immigration housing, the undersecretary Aggrey Wunyi will have to explain.
Of the over 54000 police personnel, at least 12000 stay and work in the greater Kampala Metropolitan Area but most of these have to either sleep in barracks which have dilapidated houses and uniports or rent outside the barracks.
It has been argued by many that the poor state of housing for officers affects the way they carry out their work since they sleep badly.
Under the Private Public Partnership (PPP), the police want to build at least 50,000 housing units for its officers.
Minister Otafiire last week told President Museveni that the idea has been delayed by some officials in the Ministry of Finance where the paperwork has stalled.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the 27th Police Council at Naguru, Otafiire said it is high time he put down his foot to ensure police, prison and immigration officers get decent accommodation facilities to enable them perform their work.
