By Robert Segawa
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, has warned individuals planning to cause chaos or disrupt the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) games in Uganda that they will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
Kamuntu issued the warning during the pass-out ceremony of 45 senior police officers who completed a four-month training programme at the Senior Command and Staff College in Bwebajja.
The officers underwent training from June 1, 2026, with participants ranging from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police to Superintendent of Police.
Kamuntu said the training was essential in strengthening the capacity of the Uganda Police Force to maintain law and order, prevent crime and protect the lives and property of Ugandans, particularly as the country prepares to host major sporting events.
He emphasised that the police have a constitutional mandate to protect citizens, detect and prevent crime, and maintain security, urging officers to treat these responsibilities as a daily commitment.
“The police mandate to protect, detect and fight crime should be taken as a daily prayer, just like the ‘Our Father’,” Kamuntu said.
He further urged the officers to uphold human rights and respect civilian authority while executing their duties, noting that their primary responsibility is to protect the public and their property.
Kamuntu said continuous training was vital in equipping security personnel with the skills required to address emerging security challenges and support Uganda’s ambition to transform its economy by 2040.
He added that the knowledge and skills acquired through training should be passed on to other officers to strengthen the force’s overall capacity.
During the same function, the Inspector General of Police, Abbas Byakagaba, said the police had made significant progress in apprehending criminals who had been terrorising communities in areas including Kazo, Ibanda, Mubende and Kyankwanzi.
Byakagaba maintained that the country’s overall security situation was under control, despite a few isolated incidents that security agencies had handled.
On police training, Byakagaba said the force was conducting induction and specialised training programmes for officers serving in the Field Force Unit, Counter Terrorism and Crime Intelligence departments.
He said the training was being conducted at various police training institutions, including Olilim, Ikafe and Kabalye.
Byakagaba also revealed that the police had acquired and were utilising 600 acres of land for specialised training aimed at enhancing the operational capacity of officers.
On the welfare of police personnel, he said the force was working towards constructing 2,000 housing units, alongside acquiring other operational equipment, including new marine boats, motorcycles and K9 units.
He added that the third phase of the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras was yet to be implemented.
According to Byakagaba, the expansion would extend surveillance to areas that are not currently covered, improving crime detection and strengthening the country’s security infrastructure.
