A few weeks ago, President Museveni promoted 496 police officers to different ranks. Hardly has the ink that signed their promotions papers dried up, than complaints of favouritism, tribalism, bribery and other suspicions emerged.

What is interesting is that the complaints not only emanate from only those who missed out on the promotions but even those who were promoted.

Some of those promoted believe, they deserved more than what they were awarded. Others who were not promoted claimed they were victimized because of various reasons including, but not limited to, not knowing their political affiliation.

The Police Act and regulations there under spell out elaborate procedures of how an officer can be promoted. The work on advising the president on who should be promoted is assigned to the Police Authority.

And the Police Authority, in turn, consultants the different department heads on who merits promotions in their departments.

In one of the questioned promotions is where someone has joined the forces as a Special Police Constable ( SPC), and he has never undergone the requisite nine- month training but was promoted to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).

In another case, the district commander was given a higher rank than his regional commander. Promotions are a motivational tool.

They are motivational because they come with better pay and also job satisfaction. But also promotions come with responsibility, and those awarded with such ranks must be prepared to perform such responsibilities.

On the other hand, if promotions are not carried out with fairness and integrity, they can breed discontent and frustration. It is also unfair to reward some while bringing others down.

The point is the Inspector General of Government (IGG) and the Police Standards Unit (PSU) should not just dismiss these allegations without probing them.

And even when they are investigated and merit is found in the allegations, the culprits should be brought to book. Police’s reputation has suffered a lot and they cannot afford to ignore such allegations.

Everyone who serves in the Uganda Police Force should feel needed and should be helped to perform his or her duties, without fear or favour.