Uganda Police Force has taken a strong stance against a contentious commercial advertisement featuring allegations of bribery involving a traffic officer.
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga condemned the usage of the police traffic image in the advert, describing it as deceptive and damaging to the force’s reputation.
According to Enanga, the advertisement depicts a scenario where a driver purportedly bribes a traffic officer with a packet of JESA JUS, a popular juice brand.
The ad not only insinuates corruption within the traffic police but also promotes bribery among children, exacerbating negative perceptions of law enforcement among the youth.
Enanga issued a stern warning to the commercial firm behind the advertisement, demanding the immediate removal of the contentious content.
“We demand that the commercial firm pulls out the traffic police content or the entire advert and halts any further displays on TV, radios, and other digital platforms,”he emphasized.
The Police spokesperson also highlighted the unauthorized use of police imagery and content, stressing the need for marketers and advertising producers to obtain proper authorization before featuring such material in commercial advertisements.
In response to the Police’s demands, JESA has yet to issue a statement. However, failure to comply with the directive may result in legal action by the Directorate of Legal and Human Rights Services, as outlined by Enanga.