Seven Top Police Chiefs Exit Offices Amid Restructuring Speculation

Seven senior police chiefs, all holding the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP), have reportedly left their posts at the Uganda Police Force headquarters. The officers, who led crucial directorates, handed over their responsibilities to their deputies and returned official government assets earlier this month.

Sources indicate that the offices of these directors have been closed for about a week, with some of the individuals seen at the headquarters in civilian attire. The exact reasons for their departure remain unclear, with speculation pointing towards either the expiry of their employment contracts or the government’s broader public sector rationalisation programme.

The departure of these AIGPs is particularly noteworthy as most of them were appointed to their current ranks by President Museveni in September 2024 and have served for less than two years. Under police regulations, AIGPs aged 45 and above are typically appointed on three-year contracts, renewable at the President’s discretion.

Among the officers who have reportedly vacated their offices are those who headed Operations, Human Resource Development, ICT, Welfare and Production, Human Rights and Legal Services, Counter Terrorism Police, and the Chief Political Commissariat. The absence of a formal statement from the police spokesperson has fueled further conjecture.

Some observers within the police force suggest these exits could be linked to the government’s ongoing Rationalisation of Government Agencies and Public Expenditure (Rapex) initiative, which aims to streamline public institutions. A directive issued last year by the Ministry of Public Service indicated that some director positions would be phased out and departments merged by June 2026, potentially impacting senior roles like those now vacated.

https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/seven-top-police-chiefs-vacate-offices-amid-rationalisation-questions-5477490