Kampala, Uganda – In a bid to enhance the capacity of the Uganda Police Force to address the country’s growing security concerns, Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. Kahinda Otafiire, has called for a significant increase in the number of trained police officers.
Speaking during the pass-out ceremony of 40 senior police officers who graduated with degrees from the Senior Command and Staff College in Bwebajja, Minister Otafiire emphasized the need for more trained leaders in the police force. He urged Inspector General of Police, Abas Byakagaba, to increase the annual intake of trained officers from 40 to 200.
“We need to develop our leadership capacity to effectively address the security concerns in our country,” Minister Otafiire said. “Training only 40 officers annually is not enough; we need to do more.”
The Minister suggested decentralizing training facilities to every region in Uganda, including the west, central, northern, and eastern regions. He encouraged the Inspector General to find ways to increase the number of trained officers, despite potential financial constraints.
“Leadership is about solving problems and giving direction,” Minister Otafiire stressed. “If we don’t have trained leaders, we risk having a police force that is unable to effectively address the security needs of our country.”
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Uganda police force Abbas Byakagaba thanked the graduating officers for their service and sacrifice, acknowledging the demanding training they underwent.
He emphasized the importance of teamwork, saying “You are now like a family forever, take advantage of this to support one another in the fight against criminality.”
He also encouraged them to use their acquired skills to improve policing and contribute to the transformation of the Uganda Police Force.
The IGP urged them to maintain integrity, honesty, and positivity, even in difficult situations.
