56 Ugandan police officers leave for Darfur peace mission

Sept 27, 2005 (KAMPALA) — Fifty-six police officers were last evening scheduled to leave for a year-long peacekeeping mission in war-torn Darfur, western Sudan.

Led by Inspector C. Kasalawo and two women, the smartly-dressed officers were flagged off by internal affairs state minister Kezimbira Miyingo at the police headquarters in Kibuli, Kampala.

The team, comprising 13 inspectors of police, 13 assistant inspectors of police and 30 sergeants, is the second to be sent on a foreign mission. Twenty officers were recently deployed in Liberia.

The African Union-mandated operation will last nearly one year and includes police officers from Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and South Africa.

Miyingo warned the officers that the mission would be challenging, but hoped that they would practise what they learnt during the training.

Miyingo said the government would ensure that the welfare of police officers improves.

The police director of administration, Eric Turyatunga, said the officers underwent driving, medical, physical tests and peacekeeping refresher course.

He said a senior officer was already in Sudan under an arrangement with the UN, adding that six officers would join him next month.

(ST)