The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP), Maj Gen Tumusiime Katsigazi has cautioned graduands against bragging about the master’s degree they have acquired but rather put the knowledge to use in serving the people of Uganda and making police force better.

Maj Gen Katsigazi was speaking to the forty one Senior Police officers that have graduated after completing a one-year course, which included three components; Master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies taken by 27 officers, Strategic Studies taken by 14 officers, Institutional Leadership and Management, both conducted by Makerere University and Nkumba University.

The occasion was held at Bwebajja on Thursday, July 13, 2023, during the pass-out ceremony of the Senior Command and Staff Course Intake.

The DIGP told the graduands that as middle managers, he expects them to be more prepared and to impart their newfound expertise to their colleagues.

DIGP Katsigazi Tumusiime praised the work done by the Commandant Staff College and his team, Uganda Management Institute (UMI) and partners from various universities that contributed to the knowledge development of the officers.

However, Major General (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire, the Minister of Internal Affairs who was the Chief Guest advised the newly graduated officers to apply the knowledge they have acquired to serve the people of Uganda.

He expressed the need to invest in knowledge, as it forms the basis of development.

He called on police to strive for excellence and noted the importance of a knowledgeable Police Force, highlighting that lack of knowledge is a dangerous situation for an officer to live in.

“Go and put the skills you have acquired into practice. A leader without knowledge has no place in society. Your performance in the field will be the yardstick of your competence,” the minister stated.

Minister Otafiire added “Policing is about managing people, and there is no single approach for that. It is a constantly evolving science, as people behave differently, and we must stay ahead.”

SCP Moses Kafero, the Commissioner of Police and Commandant of the Police Senior Command and Staff College Bwebajja, noted that this program is part of the career development initiative by the Uganda Police Force, aiming to enhance officer performance through comprehensive training.

This was the college’s sixth graduation, presenting possibilities for officers to further develop their knowledge and skills.

The course commenced in June 2022-July 2023, and this marked the graduation of officers with certificates and master’s degrees in various fields where some graduates were drawn from various areas of Police and Prisons.