Uganda has offered to train 50 police cadets from South Sudan National Police Services (SSNPS) at its police training school.
The South Sudanese police officers will undergo one year intensive training at Kabalye Police Training Academy in Masindi district.
1st Lieutenant Peter Majok Majok, the Desk officer for South Sudan National Police Services to Uganda revealed on Sunday that, “The initiative was based on the bilateral cooperation agreement signed between Uganda and South Sudan government.”
1st Lieutenant Majok explained that, “Under the agreement, Uganda has agreed to offer capacity building by training police officers from South Sudan.”
Majok noted that as his country contemplates joining the East African Community (EAC), South Sudan police force is expected to observe professionalism and meet the standard of the police in the region.
While handing over the officers at Elegu Border Point in Amuru District, just 4KM from Nimule border town to Mr Wilson Kwanya, the Aswa Region Police Commander (RPC), Majok admitted that, “A lot needs to be done in order to improve professionalism among police officers in my country.”
He attributed the current challenge to the long insurgency that rocked the country.
He explained that after attaining Independence, the country is trying to combine the police officers who served under old Sudan which was characterized by break down in the rule of law and new South Sudan government that is struggling to insert authority.
He also appealed to the recruits to make good use of the opportunity and warned them against indiscipline.
The Aswa Regional Police Commander Assistant Commissioner of Police Kwanya noted that the coming of the South Sudan Police Cadets recruits for training in Uganda is in line with the East African Community states.
Kwanya says, “EAC’s vision is to establish good working relationship as well as professionalism among its police force.” Adding that, “Security forces want to set standards in training its security officers in a bid to improve law and order.”
He says the training will go a long way to enhance security and peace in the region.