The legal framework and capacity of Uganda police force in eradicating narcotic drugs: a case of Kampala Metropolitan Policing Area

Abstract

Narcotic drug abuse is among the major crimes committed in Uganda. The country continues to suffer with this crime because it compromises peace, the socio-economic wellbeing of the people and deters economic growth and development. Although statistics released by the Uganda Police Force over the last five years indicate a decreasing trend in number of narcotic drugs related crimes, the number of cases registered remains high. According to the Police Annual Crime and Traffic/Road Safety Reports (2015-2020), there is slow progress in efforts to eradicate narcotic drug abuse and highlight challenges that include; gaps in the narcotic law, inadequate human resource, obsolete technologies and tools as some of the factors that undermine the effectiveness of the fight against narcotic drug abuse by the Uganda Police Force. This thesis contains an evaluation of the legal frameworks and the capacity of the Uganda Police Force in eradicating narcotic drug abuse. The evaluation includes a critical analysis of the available narcotic drug laws and how the Uganda Police Force as an enforcement institution has applied them to eradicate narcotic drug abuse. Through interviews and documentary reviews, the researcher analyses the effectiveness of the legal frameworks in eradicating narcotic drug abuse in Uganda with emphasis on Kampala Metropolitan Policing Area between the years 2015 -2020. In the process of providing such critical evaluation, and where relevant, the researcher also includes a comparative analysis of the relevant legal instruments and the narcotic drug problem in other jurisdictions, most notably the United Kingdom, United States of America, China and Mexico, which have experienced a lot of cases and literature on Narcotic drug abuse. The researcher observes that there are several gaps within the legal frameworks and institutional weaknesses within the Uganda Police Force that affect the eradication of narcotic drugs in Uganda. The researcher concludes with some recommendations to various stakeholders on how narcotic drug abuse can be eradicated.