By Robert Segawa
The Uganda Police Force has officially rolled out its Sub-County Policing Model, deploying 10,000 personnel across nine regions in a bid to enhance security and community engagement throughout the country. This ambitious plan aims to cover a total of 2,190 sub-counties by February 15, 2025, before expanding to other areas nationwide.
Speaking at the police headquarters today, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abas Byakagaba highlighted that this initiative is in line with Executive Order No. 3 from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, which directs the police to extend their reach beyond Kampala and urban centers to serve rural communities effectively. The executive order was first issued in November 2019 during the 25th Annual Police Management Conference at the Naguru Police Headquarters.
According to IGP Byakagaba, the shift in criminal activity from cities to rural areas has become a significant challenge, undermining government development programs such as the Parish Development Model, Emyoga, and Operation Wealth Creation. The Sub-County Policing Model is designed to address this shift by providing more localized policing and improving public safety.
The nine regions initially targeted for deployment include North West Nile, Kiira, Rwizi, Rwenzori East, Sipi, Greater Masaka, Greater Bushenyi, and Albertine. Each of these regions will receive specialized teams, including a commander, Officer in Charge (OC) of stations and CID, Crime Intelligence personnel, a Child and Family Officer, a Community Liaison Officer, and 12 general duty officers. These teams will be equipped with motorcycles, radios, and mobile phones to ensure fast and efficient responses to incidents.
Byakagaba emphasized that the model will lead to quicker response times, with the goal of achieving 85% efficiency, optimizing manpower, and bolstering community policing efforts. The initiative also supports the government’s development objectives by improving security and facilitating the success of key programs that are critical to rural economic growth.
The IGP expressed confidence that the police force would receive the necessary support and resources from the government and urged local leaders and citizens to fully embrace the Sub-County Policing Model. He reassured the public that the police force is committed to professionalism and teamwork in the implementation of this new security framework.
This marks a significant step toward strengthening national security and ensuring that all Ugandans, regardless of their location, feel the presence and support of their police force.
