Transformation at CID is lasting legacy of visionary and patriotic leadership

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OPINION

By Magezi Kiriinjju

One day, I asked a soldier under a mechanised regiment why army tanks make so much noise, yet they carry shells that are not as intimidating as the noise itself. He told me the noise is part of the psychological warfare, that if a tank is rumbling towards you, even if it were totally unarmed, you will think twice about staying around, however brave you may be.  

For a long time, most Ugandans did not respect, fear or get intimidated by looking at the barracks that housed the Uganda Criminal Investigation Department of the Uganda police. Even though it administered venomous bites to criminals, it lacked the tank-like rumblings to send chills to budding lawbreakers. The first time I interacted with the institution, I went to Kibuli to visit a friend, and I literally walked through the barracks unhindered, no questions asked, from Mukwano factory to my destination.

Organised chaos reigned supreme, even when there were attempts to draw the boundary with barbed wire, the CID staff themselves cut routes through it to access shops. At some point, many of the delipidated structures inside the barracks were turned into Malwa drinking joints and makeshift restaurants. Zero psychological warfare from such a serious institution.

Recently, while at CID, I was amused when one officer told his colleague, do you remember the lady who was selling chapati in this corner? And the corner is literally next to the current conference room, an area that is now hard to access if you are not authorised.  

But guess what, in just a space of only three years of Assistant Inspector General of Police Afande Tom Magambo at the helm, CID headquarters has totally transformed into a respected, if not feared, centre of crime investigation that sends chills down criminals’ spines. The chaos and mayhem are gone, the tank rumblings are back, and no one wants to linger around aimlessly.

The transformation started with the digitisation of the Annual Crime Report that enables seamless real-time data analysis, leading to timely reaction and accountability. It also enhances better data protection and bridges communication gaps with the public. The report is now easy to comprehend and faster to reconcile with available facts.

This was followed by wall-fencing, which effectively returned the control of security back to the owners. With its magnificent gate, the fence portrays professionalism and order but also shields the headquarters from prying public eyes during sensitive operations, investigations and covert training exercises taking place inside.

In the same three years, the CID was ranked the 3rd most effective investigative agency in Africa by the 2024 survey of Kenya Trak, a Nairobi-based research firm. Uganda scored 74%, behind Kenya's DCI at 82% with Ghana gunning for 76%.

Today, the Directorate boasts a 24-hour call centre equipped with a toll-free number that allows citizens throughout Uganda to contact the police with complaints and issues that require immediate attention. The call centre will enhance police communication with citizens and improve response efficiency.

Afande Magambo has put a lot of emphasis on the training of staff in order to maintain a professional, effective and up-to-date accountable department. With the ever-evolving crime landscape, adaptation to modern investigative skills is key. That is why continuous training keeps the force ahead of criminals in areas such as cybercrime, terrorism, human trafficking and digital fraud.

The directorate has embarked on the construction of a state-of-the-art seven-storey Crime Data Analysis Centre office block. While officiating at the ground-breaking ceremony, the minister of internal affairs, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire appreciated the work being done, saying, “Every time I come here, Magambo has made movement. I can now say I am proud of CID”

 The director himself was upbeat about the project, saying, “Today marks the beginning of a new era, the first seven-story CID building since the 1930s, built by Ugandans for Ugandans. We are proud that this structure, unlike the colonial buildings around us, will be a Ugandan creation, engineered, built, and maintained by Ugandans. Future generations will look back and appreciate that we, the generation of this time, contributed meaningfully.”

Like President Museveni said, ironically at CID headquarters itself; “In the last 65 years, what i discovered is that many people don’t really belong to Uganda in their work, in their thinking. If you do, it is easy to get solutions.”

Through these achievements, AIGP Tom Magambo has demonstrated that he belongs to Uganda in his work, in his thinking.

The writer is a communications officer with Government Citizen Interaction Centre

State House