The Inspector General of Police, Abbas Byakagaba, has encouraged Private Security to take over the Election Police Constables soon to be decommissioned following the end of the general elections cycle which the constables were recruited and trained to protect.
The IGP was addressing the Executive Members of the Uganda Private Security Association, the umbrella body of the private security organisations at Police headquarters, Naguru .
Byakagaba said that the take over of over 99,000 Election Constables who wish to join the private security will address human resource constraints the sector as well as improving the standards and quality of services, the companies offer ro the public.
The IGP said Police will offer it’s training camps in different regions of Uganda, provide clothings, food , transport and medical services as part of government’s support through police to bolster training and professionalization of the Private Security Organisations not only for the Election Constables but all the Private Security guards in the country.
Describing the private security organisations as “Force Multipliers” and “service to the nation” despite being a private business, the IGP said Uganda Police Force by providing some of the logistics at it’s disposal will help lower cost of training of private security guards which has been a hindrance to the programme and reduce pressure from some high profile individuals from seeking police protection.
The IGP said PSOs are an attachment to the Police and said no wonder government deemed it fit to mandate them to operate and supplement the police force.
He directed for a committee to look into the modalities of training of private guards by Police starting with re-training of Election Constables and later the already serving and new private security guards.
The announcement by the IGP was greatly welcomed by TUPSA executive members Led by Mr. Grace Matsiko, who described the offer as a strategic intervention by police and government in addition to some benefits the police has been extending to PSOs to enhance their capacity like procurement of weapons.
All TUPSA members present thanked the IGP for the offer and guidance and called on other PSOs to take advantage of the offer by submitting the numbers of Election Constables they would wish to take up.
The Election Cinstables are mainly young and energetic youths who were bound to be unemployed once the election season is over.
The meeting which handled other important matters related to PSOs was attended and addressed by the Police Director of Operations, AIGP Frank Mwesigwa, Director of Human Resource Development and Training, AIGP Moses Kafeero, the Director of Logistics and Engineering, AIGP James Aparo, Acting Commissioner of Police in charge Private Security and Firearms, Eddie Serujongi, other police officers, EXecutive Members and Board Members.
