The Influence of Police Training Programmes on Police Officers Participation in Environmental Sustainability Awareness in Uganda

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the influence of police training programmes on police officers participation in the environmental sustainability awareness in Uganda. The investigation was provoked by the reportedly deteriorating performance of police officers in areas of environmental sustainability awareness despite of government’s effort to transform Uganda to a middle income country by 2040.The specific areas studied include influence of police training on their participation in community awareness in environmental sustainability awareness, police enforcement of environmental related laws and police officers participation in environmental sustainability. The study took an interpretive philosophical paradigm and was under pined by the Social learning theory and the Expectancy theory of Motivation. Data was collected using questionnaires, interviews, Focused Group Discussions, participant observation and documentary analysis. A total of 412 police officers and 80 non polices participated in the study. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS by use of descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, Regression analysis and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis by use of transcription, coding and themes development. The study findings showed a strong positive relationship between training programmes and police officers participation in environmental sustainability awareness, (r = 0.587, p = 0.000, n = 412). It further showed that police training programmes are predictors of police officers participation in environmental sustainability awareness, p - v < 0.050 (= 0.000). The relationship is statistically significant at 95 % confidence level. The researcher concluded that police training programmes influence police officers participation in environmental sustainability awareness in Uganda. Thus it was recommended that police management promote community awareness on environmental sustainability awareness by allocating enough funds to standardize training and other activities related to environmental sustainability awareness in Uganda.