By Robert Segawa
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abas Byakagaba has appealed to the government to recruit more police officers to help Uganda meet the internationally recommended police-to-population ratio.
Byakagaba made the appeal on Friday during the passing-out ceremony of 9,952 Probationer Police Constables (PPCs) at the Police Training School in Kabalye, Masindi. President Yoweri Museveni presided over the ceremony as the chief guest.
In his remarks, the IGP said the graduation had increased the Uganda Police Force’s strength to 58,369 officers, comprising 43,737 men and 14,633 women, serving a population of about 46 million people. Despite the increase, he said the Force still falls short of the recommended staffing levels.
Byakagaba explained that the internationally accepted standard is one police officer for every 500 people. With its current strength, Uganda has a ratio of one officer for every 839 people, highlighting the need for additional recruitment.
He also noted that about 1,000 police personnel leave the Force each year through retirement and other forms of attrition. To address the shortfall, he proposed the recruitment of at least 3,000 officers annually over the next five years.
The IGP urged the newly passed-out officers to uphold discipline, place service above self, and earn public trust by providing professional security services and maintaining peace across the country.
Minister of Internal Affairs Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu supported Byakagaba’s call, saying the current police-to-population ratio undermines efforts to effectively deliver policing services.
Kamuntu reminded the new officers that they are not only law enforcers but also ambassadors of the Uganda Police Force, urging them to serve with integrity and professionalism.
In his address, President Museveni did not indicate whether the government would undertake a new recruitment exercise in the near future.
