Members of the public in distress calling police telephone numbers that the Inspector General of Police, Mr Martins Okoth-Ochola, issued last Friday are being charged for the air time after the national emergency free toll lines (999 and 122) broke down.
President Museveni on Saturday stated in a letter that all phones at the police stations must be toll free.
“I criticised the police for not implementing my directives previously. Let all the police stations have cost free (toll-free) phones that are known to the public. When that is done everywhere, people being attacked, in addition to the alarm to summon neighbours, somebody should ring that local police number promptly,” President Museveni said.
On Friday, Mr Ochola issued 468 telephone or mobile phone numbers for the public to contact police.
Mr Ochola said the fixed counter telephones in all police stations and posts throughout Kampala Metropolitan Policing Area was part of police communication plan.
He said the 999 and 112 toll free lines have encountered challenges, which they are yet to rectify.