The Uganda Police Force is the national police force of

Uganda Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the ...

. The head of the force is called the

Inspector General of Police An inspector-general of police is a senior police officer in the police force or police service of several nations. The rank usually refers to the head of a large regional command within a police service, and in many countries refers to the most ...

(IGP). The current IGP is Abbas Byakagaba. Byakagaba replaced former IGP, Geoffrey Tumusiime on 18 May 2024. Recruitment to the forces is done annually.

History

The Uganda Police Force was established in 1906 by the British administration. At that time, it was referred to as the Uganda Armed Constabulary with the primary responsibility of quelling "riots and unrest." On 25 May 1906, then Captain (later Brigadier General) William F.S Edwards, DSO, arrived in Uganda and became the first Inspector General of the Uganda Protectorate Police. Brigadier General William FS Edwards was regarded as a "stern disciplinarian and an excellent administrator." He held the IGP appointment until 1908, but held a position in administration up to the time of his retirement in 1922. The size of the force was reduced from 8,000 to 3,000 in 1986. Up until April 2014, the official name of the government agency was Uganda Police Force. On that day, the IGP publicly announced the name change to Uganda National Police.

Equipment

In 2015, the police agency took delivery of three new aircraft, including one PZL W-3A Sokół helicopter; one AgustaWestland AW109 GrandNew helicopter; and one fixed wing aircraft.

Firearms

* Jericho 941- counter-terrorism officers *

Remington 870 The Remington Model 870 is a pump-action shotgun manufactured by Remington Arms Company, LLC. It is widely used by the public for shooting sports, hunting and self-defense, as well as by law enforcement and military organizations worldwide. De ...

12 Gauge *

AK-47 The AK-47, officially known as the Avtomat Kalashnikova (; also known as the Kalashnikov or just AK), is an assault rifle that is chambered for the 7.62×39mm cartridge. Developed in the Soviet Union by Russian small-arms designer Mikhail Kala ...

7.62x39mm * Federal Riot Gun- Deployed by riot police

Notable people

Below are some notable people who have served in the Uganda National Police: * Joshua Cheptegei - Olympian long-distance runner * Luke Kercan Ofungi - Long serving former IGP * General Edward Katumba Wamala - First Ugandan

military officer An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service. Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer (NCO), or a warrant officer. However, absent c ...

to serve as Inspector General * Elizabeth Muwanga - First woman to join the police force in 1980 Below are some notable people who have served in the original Uganda Protectorate Police, Uganda Police and British East Africa Police: * Brigadier General William FS Edwards - first Inspector General of the Uganda Protectorate Police, first IG of the Uganda Police and the IG of then British East Africa Police.

Controversies

Uganda police force has had a number of incidences that have been cited as controversial for example use of force against the opposition political parties like FDC and NUP. It has also brutally manhandled leaders like Kiiza Besigye,

Erias Lukwago Erias Lukwago Ssalongo (born 11 May 1970), is a Ugandan lawyer and politician. He is the lord mayor of the city of Kampala, the capital of Uganda and the largest metropolitan area in the country. He was first elected to that position on 14 Janu ...

, Betty Nambooze and Bobi Wine. These incidents have led to the organisation being identified as partisan and intolerant to dissent. Emilian Kayima Kafeero

References

External links

Official website
{{Authority control Law enforcement in Uganda 1900s establishments in Uganda