Traffic Officer Wanted a Bribe From Opolot
Charles Opolot is the former Deputy Photo Editor at Newvision, but a seasoned journalist and a lecturer at various universities. Below is his ordeal and face to face with corrupt traffic officer.
In Public Policy, Street Level Bureaucracy is when small people in an organisation determine the punishment to give a citizen, without consideration of rules or the knowledge of the bosses.
This happened to me yesterday (Monday) July 1, 2019, when a traffic police constable, one Kisembo Hassan No. 63109 flagged me down at Bypass near the Namboole flyover. Being a law abiding citizen, I obliged.
Then the first thing the fellow asks is my driving permit. Then walks around the car for three times. Checked the number plate twice ( I drive a UBF number) then checked insurance twice. After failing to get any fault the hardworking constable then tells me that I was driving in a manner that was “scaring other road users”. I asked what he wanted to do.
He said he would fine me. I agree. The hardworking constable takes another 45 minutes proccessing the fine. I called Afande Edward Ochom. He instructs Afande Norman Musinga to handle. Then the hardworking constable lies that there was ” no network “. It is these small people with peasant and needy attitudes that injure the image of police.
These people must be moved to other areas of their competence and not traffic section, where they seek to fleece innocent and law abiding citizens.
Thank you Afande Norman for your genuine and honest apology. Thank you afande Sabune for your response although it came long after Kisembo had judged me guilty.
I will pay the maximum fine of 100k I will also continue paying my taxes that buy the white uniform that Kisembos of police will continue abusing. But I will NEVER pay a bribe to Kisembo and his ilk, no matter. My prayer is that police weeds its force of these cunning Kisembos. FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY.