The Uganda Police Force (UPF) on Monday launched online application services for the certificate of good conduct and police clearance certificates.
A certificate of good conduct is a document issued by the local police indicating whether the applicant has any criminal record or not. It is often required when a person applies for a job or seeks to immigrate to another country.
It is one of the measures countries all over the world employ to protect and guard their interest from criminal elements, identify and apprehend criminals. It includes the taking of fingerprints which are used for national identification, issuance of passports, visas, employment, joining academic institutions etc.
The online service was launched at Nagulu Police Headquarters, effective 17th May 2021.
The Acting Director of Interpol and International Relations Senior Commissioner Birungi Charles, said the move is meant to mitigate the threat of the spread of COVID -19 and to minimize congestion at the Directorate of Interpol Headquarters’ which is mandated to issue certificates of good conduct.
More often there congestion at the Kampala Interpol Directorate Headquarters as youthful Ugandans throng Interpol offices each day to process the certificate to seek opportunities abroad. Police says the online process takes 3 to 5 days.
Police say the move will also reduce on the time spent in the process of acquiring the certificates of good conduct as well as help the applicants to track and know the status of their applications.
The online process requires one to visit Uganda Police Force website on www.upf.go.ug and click on the Services tab and select “Certificate of Good Conduct” option OR type service.upf.go.ug/certificates in the browser.
Thereafter, Click on Register button to create an account. Applicants using this application for the first time and have never created an account but those with accounts can directly log in. However, you require an active email to Register. You then follow the prompts to apply for the certificate of good conduct.
When the certificate is ready, the applicant receives an alert through e-mail.
The process also processes Police clearance certificates an internationally recognized document required for services abroad.
The new mode according to police accommodates payments by use of Mobile Money service, through the bank and Visa cards/Master cards.