Politics 18 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda's Police Force: A Journey of Transformation Since 1986
Since President Museveni came to power in 1986, the Uganda Police Force has undergone significant changes in leadership, recruitment, and strategy, aiming to combat deep-seated corruption and rebuild public trust. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/special-reports/the-changing-faces-of-policing-law-and-order-under-museveni-5463658
The Uganda Police Force has seen a dramatic metamorphosis since the National Resistance Army/Movement (NRA/M) took control in 1986. Initially plagued by pervasive corruption and a depleted workforce, the force underwent extensive retrenchment, retaining only 3,000 officers out of 10,000. This was followed by a large-scale recruitment drive to fill the resulting vacancies.
Efforts to reform the police began early, with the introduction of community policing in 1989 to foster better relations between officers and the public. However, challenges such as poor officer welfare and inadequate training continued to hinder effectiveness. A 2001 commission of inquiry into police corruption starkly revealed that many officers resorted to bribery and extortion to supplement meager salaries.
Throughout the years, several Inspectors General of Police have spearheaded reforms. John Cossy Odomel and John Kisembo led the force through periods marked by persistent corruption, with the police consistently ranking as the most corrupt public institution in national integrity surveys.
The Ssebutinde Commission of Inquiry in 1999 provided a detailed, public examination of the force’s inner workings, leading to recommendations for prosecution and improved recruitment standards. General Katumba Wamala, appointed IGP in 2001, was tasked with implementing these recommendations, which involved dismissing or reassigning senior officers and reopening shelved criminal cases. His tenure also focused on improving officer welfare, including housing and addressing alcoholism, and increasing the police’s operational capacity through donations and new recruitments.
General Kale Kayihura’s appointment in 2005 saw a significant expansion in police numbers and resources, alongside a focus on restoring law and order in post-conflict regions. However, his leadership was also marred by allegations of human rights abuses during periods of civil unrest.
Martins Okoth Ochola, who took over in 2018, initiated reforms to strengthen institutional structures, disband informal units, and improve adherence to human rights. He inherited a force struggling with infiltration by ‘wrong elements’ and a surge in violent crimes.
In May 2024, Mr. Abas Byakagaba was appointed the current Inspector General of Police, leading a force whose operational landscape has increasingly seen the involvement of the military.