In a significant policy shift aimed at strengthening national security and curbing the proliferation of what officials describe as "liberalized" private militias, the Uganda Police Force (UPF) has officially taken over the training of private security guards.
The Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi, revealed the development while appearing before Parliament's Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs. The move follows a petition by Private Security Organisations (PSOs) seeking clarity on industry regulations and the government's role in their operations.
Minister Muhoozi told lawmakers that the government is moving away from a largely hands-off approach to private security. Under a proposed review of industry regulations, all private guards will now be required to undergo training either at police training schools or through police instructors deployed to accredited PSO facilities.
Currently, a pioneer cohort of 7,085 trainees is undergoing instruction at various police training schools across the country. The training, which is funded by taxpayers, is expected to conclude on April 24, 2026.
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"We want to desist from liberalism on security companies and maintain stringent regulation," Minister Muhoozi stated.
"As we speak, we have over 7,000 undergoing training by the police free of charge to ensure quality standardized training."
The decision is informed by several critical concerns raised during the committee session. Uganda currently has approximately 82,000 private security guards--significantly outnumbering the national police force--prompting fears about oversight, coordination, and accountability within the sector.
The Ministry also highlighted growing concern over the "unauthorized duplication" of police uniforms by some private firms, a practice that has led to public confusion and raised security risks.
Under the new measures, the police will retain strict authority over the approval of all PSO uniforms.
In addition, the government is introducing a "strict licensing regime" covering both firearms and uniforms to ensure that private security organizations do not evolve into a domestic threat.
Addressing concerns about a potential conflict of interest, Minister Muhoozi emphasized that the police have a constitutional mandate to provide internal security and regulate all entities authorized to carry arms.
Uganda currently has 457 registered private security organizations. While the police have historically regulated these entities, the new approach marks a clear transition from passive oversight to active professionalization of the industry.
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Members of Parliament welcomed the initiative as a positive step but stressed the need for a comprehensive legal framework to anchor the reforms. They called for Parliament to enact a dedicated law that will provide long-term clarity and stability for the sector.
The Minister further revealed that a standardized training curriculum has already been developed. The curriculum is expected to enhance professionalism, improve service quality, and address critical security challenges, while also boosting public confidence.
It will also ensure compliance with legal requirements and equip guards with essential skills in conflict resolution, surveillance, and emergency response.
