That’s just how it is I’m afraid. And the police know it as much as anyone else. In the central Gulu Police station, this notice made me laugh for at least 30 seconds.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”Well here the police seem to have hunger and thirst to be seen as righteous, which is along the same lines but really quite the opposite.

Police are hated is because they are hopelessly corrupt, selfish and I haven’t seen a hint of justice or righteousness among them. From demanding bribes to do anything, to locking people up en masse for no reason (read the article, its ridiculous. “The suspects will be charged for being rogues and vagabonds…”), to our friend being locked up for days with no charge and no way to contact anyone,  the police here tick all the bad police boxes you can think of.

Last week a Community Development Officer from Gulu was allegedly shot by someone from President Musevini’s regime, apparently because he backed into the guys car. Go figure. Many are interpreting it as tribal based, and whether it is or not his friends in Northern Uganda know they won’t get justice from the police or the legal system. The murderer from the regime will walk free. My workmate Fiona Akwero wrote on facebook “I can’t believe I was born in a country where where there is no justice.”

I’ve heard people discuss this psalm here when talking about this kind of situation. This kind of passage takes on a whole new meaning here.

“Refrain from anger and turn from wrath do not fret – it leads only to evil.
For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land, and enjoy peace and prosperity.”