Thumbs up to Uganda Police

I have always had a different notion about the way the police operates in Uganda not until yesterday. To many people, the police in this country is associated with all forms of violent behavior from tear gas and pepper spraying opposition leaders during the infamous 'Walk To Work' protests last year to high corruption. But yesterday my earlier notion about the conduct of our police officers was proved wrong.

It all began last week on Saturday when i decided to take my laptop to Kampala to have its hinge repaired. My final destination was Kampala Road as that is where most computer technicians are located. I made up my mind to have it repaired at E.M PLAZA. Before i entered the plaza i met a marketing guy handing out flyers to passersby. He stealthy noticed i was carrying a laptop and inquired whether i saw selling it or for repair. I replied that i needed it repaired to which he offered to take me to the shop he was marketing. He took me to O.J Investments in room 109 in the basement floor

I met Jimmy, the chief technician and we negotiated the costs involved to which he asked me to deposit at least three quarters of the total cost. I obliged and keenly told him that i wanted my laptop as soon as possible since i use it very often for my work. He assured me that it would be ready if i only give him three hours to finish the job. I left his shop by 11 am and told him i would be back by 2pm for my laptop. I went to see my friend at Equatorial shopping mall and by 2pm i was back at Jimmy's for my machine. I was told that he had given it to some guy in Kiseka market to repair the hinge and he was done, that he was on the way bringing my laptop back.

I waited up to 4 pm but Jimmy kept on telling me how my laptop was on the way. I began smelling a rat since Kiseka market is just a 10 minutes ride on a Boda-boda to Kampala road. Also Jimmy's behavior was not helping much, he had not even a speck of customer care in him. He kept me waiting at his shop for three hours without even offering a seat to me. He just went on minding his business without any care in the World that i too had other things to do. When i clocked 5pm i told him to tell me when my laptop would be ready and he told me to come back the next day which was a Sunday and most of all Eid day. I never bothered to go to his place on a public holiday until yesterday Monday which was a working day.

Guess what happened..........same story your laptop is on the way, time check 10 am. I lounged around his shop up-to midday but my laptop was no show, still same story 'Guy is coming". Talking to Jimmy was not helping much as he kept on telling me how he hates being pressurised and worst of all bragging to his mates how he is a 'Bad Man'. I lost my cool and decided to take things to another level. I thought of all the police men lounging around at City Square. I could get two or three to come and teach this Jimmy guy a lesson. I hit the road to City Square but on the way i made up my mind to try the Central Police Station (CPS) located nearby.

At CPS, i spotted two mean looking officers brandishing AK47 rifles, i thought 'yeah' these could do the job. I approached them and told them my situation to which they asked me whether i had a reference letter. I was told that i needed that letter in order to have some one arrested and i could only get it after recording my case inside the station. My first reaction was to ask how much i would be made to pay in order to report my case, amazingly these officers assured me i had to pay nothing. I had heard stories that you have to first pay in order to record your complaint with the police!. Also i hoped to find some meaning looking officers offer them some money to gO and teach my tormentor a lesson he would never forget, i did not think i would be made to follow criteria.

I had no choice but to venture into the much feared station where all my fears were dissolved. I met a lady who directed me to Room 7 from where i could get help, here i found two officer a lady and a gentleman. The lady officer advised to try and get the guy's telephone contact, there is a system at the station which gives room for negotiation between the aggrieved parties. The officer called Jimmy and talked with him for more than five minutes about my complaint. In the end the guy told me to go pick my laptop at his shop. A simple as that my case had been solved in an amicable way and i was not even asked for money for the airtime!. The lady assured me that if i go to Jimmy's and my laptop is not there, she was ready to go with me and other officers to have him arrested.

The magic worked, Jimmy hired a bike and i went with him to where he had put my machine and he refunded my money as the laptop had not been worked on. Though i did not get my laptop repaired, the incident made me realize the gentle side of police in solving conflicts. I say again thumbs up Uganda Police especially the officer in Room 7 at CPS.