Uganda’s New traffic police uniform disturbs public

By Jeremiah Kaniampiha 

The Uganda Police has made changes in its Uniform especially the traffic police. However, the new traffic police uniform is painfully disturbing. ” It looks like that one of Local Defense Units (LDU),” comments Richard Kasozi, a boda Boda rider at Kyengera.

” I wonder what forced them to change from the white uniform. This one will give them an excuse not to wash. They look like the World War veterans, who fought the war in Burma; in Asia,” says Gerald Musingize, a bus driver.

Musingize and Kasozi represent thoughts of many Ugandans, who are not comfortable with the new traffic police uniform. This uniform makes officers look like trainees; they seem uncomfortable with the dressing; the white accessories added to the khaki trousers is not a good sight. The designer was out of the world of beauty and fashion!

Mbu the decision followed a Police Council meeting of 2019 that recommended degazetting of four uniforms leaving a total number of 13 uniforms form 17. The degazetted uniforms are ASTU desert caumoforage, Regular white traffic uniform, navy blue regular Uniform for Marines and dark navy blue/sky blue uniforms for Aviation police.

The new traffic uniform was Monday unveiled by the Chairman Police Council Uniform Committee, who also doubles as the Chief Political Commissar, AIGP Asan Kasingye, during the Monday press conference at the Police headquarters, Naguru.

In the new changes, traffic officers will now put on Regular Khaki Uniform customized with Police shirt label with an Ash White beret, for men and white and black capes for female traffic police officers. They will also wear a white duty belt and white leather gutters fasted on their jungle boots for other ranks.

Traffic Officers of and above the rank of AIP will not be required to put on white gutters. At a later date all traffic officers will be supplied with a reflective jacket. The changes are normal and meant to improve service delivery to the public.