Uganda Police Hands Over 7,000 Election Constables to Private Security Firms

Over 7000 de-commissioned Election Special Police Constables have commenced training to enable them to join Private Security Organisations (PSOs).

The one-month intensive training programme to equip the over 7000 former Police Constables that were hired to police the election exercise opened at the Uganda Police Counter Terrorism Training School in Olilim in Katakwi District today (Tuesday).

Representing the Uganda Police Force Director of Human Resources Development and Training, AIGP Moses Kafeero, the Acting Commissioner of Police in charge of general training, Moses Byabagye, said the former Police Constables have effectively been passed over to the Private Security Organisations to boost their capacity and provide alternative formal employment after the expiry of their contract with the government.

“As Police, we are grateful to the Private Security Organisations through their umbrella body, the Uganda Private Security Association (TUPSA), for taking over these former election Police Constables. After the expiry of their contract with the police, these young men and women have been given an alternative source of employment. These numbers will improve and strengthen the capacity of the private security companies,” he added.

The Uganda Private Security Association Chairman, Mr Grace Matsiko, hailed the Inspector General of Police, Abbas Byakagaba, for coming up with the proposal to the private security organisations to take over the former Police Constables.

“We are grateful to the  Inspector General of Police, Abbas Byakagaba, for supporting the private security to take over the former Police Constables because these young men and women were bound to be redundant after their engagement with the government ended.

The police have provided us with the training school at no cost, food to feed the trainees, medicine, instructors and other logistics to train these trainees,” Matsiko said.

The Commandant of the Olilim Counterterrorism training school, SSP Jasper Oloka, said the countrywide exercise has attracted 5048 males and 2074 females, making a total of 7122 trainees.

In addition to earlier Police training, trainees will receive training in law enforcement, crime detection and investigation, as well as knowledge of the private security mandate in domestic security.