The Uganda Police Force is the national

police force The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and th ...

Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...

. The head of the force is called the

Inspector General of Police An Inspector General of Police is a senior police officer in the police force or police service of several nations. The rank usually refers to the head of a large regional command within a police service, and in many countries refers to the most se ...

(IGP). The current IGP is Martin Okoth Ochola. Ochola replaced former IGP,

General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...

Kale Kayihura General Edward Kalekezi Kayihura, commonly known as Kale Kayihura, is a Ugandan lawyer, military General, farmer and former policeman. He was the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Uganda Police Force, the highest rank in that branch of ...

in March 2018. Recruitment to the forces is done annually.

History

The Uganda Police Force was established in 1906 by the British administration. At that time, it was referred to as the Uganda Armed Constabulary with the primary responsibility of quelling "riots and unrest." On 25 May 1906, then Captain (later Brigadier General) William F.S Edwards, DSO, arrived in Uganda and became the first Inspector General of the Uganda Protectorate Police. Brigadier General William FS Edwards was regarded as a "stern disciplinarian and an excellent administrator." He held the IGP appointment until 1908, but held a position in administration up to the time of his retirement in 1922. The size of the force was reduced from 8,000 to 3,000 in 1986. Up until April 2014, the official name of the government agency was Uganda Police Force. On that day, the IGP publicly announced the name change to Uganda National Police.

Equipment

In 2015, the police agency took delivery of three new aircraft, including one PZL W-3A Sokół helicopter; one AgustaWestland AW109 GrandNew helicopter; and one fixed wing aircraft.

Firearms

Jericho 941 The Jericho 941 is a double-action/single-action semi-automatic pistol developed by Israel Military Industries (now Israel Weapon Industries) introduced in 1990. It was first imported into the United States in 1990 by K.B.I., Inc. of Harrisbur ...

- counter-terrorism officers *

Remington 870 The Remington Model 870 is a pump-action shotgun manufactured by Remington Arms Company, LLC. It is widely used by the public for shooting sports, hunting and self-defense, as well as by law enforcement and military organizations worldwide. De ...

12 Gauge *

AK-47 The AK-47, officially known as the ''Avtomat Kalashnikova'' (; also known as the Kalashnikov or just AK), is a gas operated, gas-operated assault rifle that is chambered for the 7.62×39mm cartridge. Developed in the Soviet Union by Russian s ...

7.62x39mm *

Federal Riot Gun The Federal Riot Gun (FRG) is a firearm made by Federal Laboratories Inc., designed to fire non-lethal munitions. Its ammunition includes 37 and 38mm baton and tear gas rounds. The baton rounds were cylindrical, rubber projectiles. The most pop ...

- Deployed by riot police

Notable people

Below are some notable people who have served in the Uganda National Police: *

Joshua Cheptegei Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei (born 12 September 1996) is a Ugandan long-distance runner. He is the reigning Olympic champion in the 5000 metres and silver medalist for the 10,000 metres, a two-time 10,000 m World champion from 2019 and 2022, W ...

- Olympian long-distance runner *

Luke Kercan Ofungi Luke Kercan Ofungi (29 March 1934 – 4 September 1990) was an inspector general in the Uganda Police Force, a businessman in the travel industry in Uganda, and a member of the Alur community. Early history Ofungi was born in Padolo Village, O ...

- Long serving former IGP * General Edward Katumba Wamala - First Ugandan

military officer An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service. Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer, or a warrant officer. However, absent context ...

to serve as Inspector General Below are some notable people who have served in the original Uganda Protectorate Police, Uganda Police and British East Africa Police: * Brigadier General William FS Edwards - first Inspector General of the Uganda Protectorate Police, first IG of the Uganda Police and the IG of then British East Africa Police.

References

External links