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The nexus between sports and security in Uganda
National security is built not only on battlefields, but also on sports fields. The 18th Inter-Forces Games in Gulu showed how sport can build trust, teamwork and unity among Uganda’s security agencies, writes Major Bilal Katamba.
Afande Katamba. (File)
By: Admin ., Journalist @New Vision
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OPINION
By Major Bilal Katamba, Psc (Alg)
For decades, the global discourse surrounding national security has been dominated by hard-power metrics: tactical manoeuvres, hardware acquisitions, operational doctrines and troop deployments.
Yet, true national resilience often thrives in spaces far removed from the traditional frontline.
In contemporary Uganda, an increasingly vital component of defence strategy is being forged not on battlefields, but on running tracks, football pitches and sports courts. The recently concluded 18th edition of the Inter-Forces Games 2026 served as a profound manifestation of this reality, offering a vivid masterclass in how sports competition directly feeds into national security, institutional synergy and social cohesion.
Held in Gulu city at St Joseph’s College Layibi, under the theme, Building Synergies Through Sports, the two-week sporting spectacle brought together four core pillars of Uganda’s security architecture: the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), the Uganda Prisons Service, the Uganda Police Force, and the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Competing across eight distinct disciplines: athletics, football, netball, volleyball, handball, taekwondo, darts and shooting/range, the games culminated in a hard-fought victory for the UPDF, who claimed the overall championship trophy after clinching three out of the eight highly contested gold medals.
Beyond the medals, trophies and podium finishes, however, lay a much deeper strategic narrative, a powerful testament to the unbreakable bond between physical culture and the protection of the state.
At first glance, the day-to-day operational realities of the four participating institutions could not be more distinct. The UPDF protects national sovereignty from external threats; the Police Force preserves domestic law and order; the Prisons Service manages correctional custody and rehabilitation; and the Wildlife Authority safeguards the nation’s invaluable natural heritage against poaching and environmental degradation. Yet, beneath these diverse operational tags lies a singular, overarching strategic mandate: to protect Uganda, her people, and her wealth. Different uniforms, single mandate.
Achieving this ultimate objective requires an exceptional level of operational readiness, which stood as a core thematic objective of the Inter-Forces Games. Modern security challenges are fluid, unpredictable, and interconnected, demanding that personnel possess elite physical capability. Sports serve as the ultimate, non-lethal crucible for maintaining this physical fitness. By pushing their bodies to the absolute limit on the field, these men and women in uniform ensure they possess the stamina, agility, and mental sharpness required to execute demanding tactical missions in their respective theatres of operation.
Furthermore, the games serve as an invaluable talent-scouting ecosystem. Security agencies have historically relied on competitive sports to identify new talent: individuals with the raw physical attributes and psychological resilience necessary for specialised roles within the forces. Whether sprinting down a track or coordinating a complex play on the football field, the attributes that define a great athlete- discipline, strategic foresight, split-second decision-making, and endurance are identical to those that define a top-tier security officer. All these foundational layers are ultimately aimed at a singular goal: peak operational readiness.
In the realm of joint operations, the greatest bottleneck to success is rarely a lack of equipment or personnel; rather, it is a lack of inter-agency cohesion. When the need and desire arise for these distinct forces to act as a singular, unified machine, pre-existing trust is paramount. This strategic necessity was perfectly encapsulated in the tournament’s core theme: “Building Synergies Through Sports.”
Before the sports delegation departed for Gulu, the strategic intent of the country’s security leadership was made crystal clear. Flagging off the UPDF participants from the Land Force headquarters in Bombo, the suave Major General Richard Karemire, who serves as the Joint Staff Formal Education, Sports and Culture and doubles as the chairperson national organizing coming of the inter-forces games, delivered a message that perfectly captured the spirit of the tournament: “You are going to play with UPS, UPF, and UWA. We want to enhance the friendship, the camaraderie, the harmony so that at the end of the day we can all, collectively contribute towards socio-economic transformation. So, while you are playing, don’t break their legs.”
Maj Gen. Karemire’s witty yet profound directive highlights the essence of military sportsmanship. The games break down institutional silos, replacing suspicion and rigid rivalry with deep-seated comradeship. When a soldier, a police officer, a prison warder, and a wildlife ranger sweat together, compete fiercely, and share a laugh on the pitch, they build an organic network of mutual respect. Years later, when these same individuals meet during a high-stakes joint operation, be it counter-terrorism, disaster response, or border management, they will not view each other as strangers from competing agencies, but as comrades-in-arms.
Equally important is the psychological value of these games. Security personnel operate under immense daily pressure, carrying the emotional and mental weight of national defence. The two-week tournament offered a vital psychological release valve, allowing personnel to shed off stress, rejuvenate their spirits, and return to their demanding duties with renewed vigour.
The prominent role of security personnel in Ugandan sports is not a recent innovation; it is a storied tradition that has historically anchored the nation’s international identity.
The 2026 Inter-Forces Games merely continued a legacy where the country’s national pride was upheld by men and women in uniform.
Ugandan sporting history is incomplete without mentioning the legendary John Akii-Bua, the first African athlete to set an Olympic record by winning the 400m hurdles gold at the 1972 Munich Olympics while serving as a dedicated officer in the Uganda Police Force. Similarly, Uganda’s historic 1978 Africa Cup of Nations football team, which famously marched all the way to the finals, was heavily anchored by uniformed personnel.
That iconic squad featured Captain Paul Ouma, a remarkable “triple captain” who simultaneously captained the national team (the Uganda Cranes), the army football club (Simba FC), and held the rank of Captain within the national army. He was flanked by formidable military men like commando goalkeeper Sergeant Paul Ssali, Godfrey Kisitu, and Ahmed Doku.
Furthermore, the games serve as an invaluable talent-scouting ecosystem. Security agencies have historically relied on competitive sports to identify new talent: individuals with the raw physical attributes and psychological resilience necessary for specialised roles within the forces. Whether sprinting down a track or coordinating a complex play on the football field, the attributes that define a great athlete- discipline, strategic foresight, split-second decision-making, and endurance are identical to those that define a top-tier security officer. All these foundational layers are ultimately aimed at a singular goal: peak operational readiness.
In the realm of joint operations, the greatest bottleneck to success is rarely a lack of equipment or personnel; rather, it is a lack of inter-agency cohesion. When the need and desire arise for these distinct forces to act as a singular, unified machine, pre-existing trust is paramount. This strategic necessity was perfectly encapsulated in the tournament’s core theme: “Building Synergies Through Sports.”
Before the sports delegation departed for Gulu, the strategic intent of the country’s security leadership was made crystal clear. Flagging off the UPDF participants from the Land Force headquarters in Bombo, the suave Major General Richard Karemire, who serves as the Joint Staff Formal Education, Sports and Culture and doubles as the chairperson national organizing coming of the inter-forces games, delivered a message that perfectly captured the spirit of the tournament: “You are going to play with UPS, UPF, and UWA. We want to enhance the friendship, the camaraderie, the harmony so that at the end of the day we can all, collectively contribute towards socio-economic transformation. So, while you are playing, don’t break their legs.”
Maj Gen. Karemire’s witty yet profound directive highlights the essence of military sportsmanship. The games break down institutional silos, replacing suspicion and rigid rivalry with deep-seated comradeship. When a soldier, a police officer, a prison warder, and a wildlife ranger sweat together, compete fiercely, and share a laugh on the pitch, they build an organic network of mutual respect. Years later, when these same individuals meet during a high-stakes joint operation, be it counter-terrorism, disaster response, or border management, they will not view each other as strangers from competing agencies, but as comrades-in-arms.
Equally important is the psychological value of these games. Security personnel operate under immense daily pressure, carrying the emotional and mental weight of national defence. The two-week tournament offered a vital psychological release valve, allowing personnel to shed off stress, rejuvenate their spirits, and return to their demanding duties with renewed vigour.
The prominent role of security personnel in Ugandan sports is not a recent innovation; it is a storied tradition that has historically anchored the nation’s international identity.
The 2026 Inter-Forces Games merely continued a legacy where the country’s national pride was upheld by men and women in uniform.
Ugandan sporting history is incomplete without mentioning the legendary John Akii-Bua, the first African athlete to set an Olympic record by winning the 400m hurdles gold at the 1972 Munich Olympics while serving as a dedicated officer in the Uganda Police Force. Similarly, Uganda’s historic 1978 Africa Cup of Nations football team, which famously marched all the way to the finals, was heavily anchored by uniformed personnel.
That iconic squad featured Captain Paul Ouma, a remarkable “triple captain” who simultaneously captained the national team (the Uganda Cranes), the army football club (Simba FC), and held the rank of Captain within the national army. He was flanked by formidable military men like commando goalkeeper Sergeant Paul Ssali, Godfrey Kisitu, and Ahmed Doku.
The Police Force contributed the legendary Denis Obua and Francis Kulabigwo, while the Prisons Service brought forth the electric Abbey Nasuru to complete a golden era of uniformed dominance in national sports.
This rich pedigree extends seamlessly into the modern era. The younger generation of Ugandans vividly remembers Assistant Superintendent of Prisons (ASP) Stephen Kiprotich, whose unforgettable marathon victories at the London 2012 Olympics and the 2013 World Athletics Championships captivated the globe.
Today, that legacy is firmly carried forward by the legendary Assistant Superintendent of Prisons Joshua Cheptegei, whose astonishing collection of Olympic and World Championship gold medals has cemented Uganda’s status as a global athletics powerhouse. These athletes do more than win medals; they act as premier ambassadors for the state, projecting soft power and proving that the discipline learned in the barracks translates perfectly to global sporting excellence. Through the Inter-Forces Games, we are able to identify more talents to continue the legacy of uniformed personnel at national and international sporting arenas.
From Conflict to Cohesion: The Metamorphosis of Northern Uganda
Perhaps the most poignant aspect of the 18th Inter-Forces Games was its geographical setting. Holding a massive, celebratory security forces sports tournament at St. Joseph’s College Layibi in Gulu carried immense historical and symbolic weight.
For those who intimately knew Northern Uganda from the late 1980s until 2007, the region was once synonymous with the devastating warfare, unspeakable mayhem, and sheer brutality of Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). In those dark days, the relationship between the local civilian population and the security forces was often strained by fear, trauma, and deep-seated suspicion.
The vibrant scenes in Gulu in 2026 demonstrated how completely the region has shed its painful past. The legacy of suffering, insecurity, and misery has been decisively replaced by a new legacy of peace, development, progress, and commercial enterprise. The grounds were filled not with fearful onlookers, but with enthusiastic citizens from all walks of life, demonstrating the immense power of sports in fostering harmony and strengthening civil-military relations.
This spirit of national cohesion was visually mirrored by the diverse leadership that graced the event. The spiritual realm was united in prayer; at the opening ceremony on August 24, 2026, His Grace Raphael p’Mony Wokorach, the Archbishop of the Gulu Archdiocese, led the congregation in opening prayers, while his counterpart, Bishop Godfrey Loum, guided the closing spiritual reflections. Sitting calmly throughout the proceedings was His Eminence Sheikh Ismail Khalil, the Regional Assistant to the Mufti in charge of Northern Uganda. The Prime Minister of the Paramount Chief of Acholi (Ker Kwaro Acholi), alongside prominent political leaders and everyday citizens, attended the matches completely free of duress, celebrating alongside the very forces tasked with their protection. The games demonstrated a region that had metamorphosed from Conflict to Cohesion.
The successful execution and revitalisation of these games are a direct result of forward-thinking leadership at the highest levels of the defence establishment. The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who sent his deputy to represent him at the opening ceremonies, received widespread praise for giving the Inter-Forces Games a vibrant new lease of life. Through his deliberate funding, administrative approval, and strategic backing, Gen Kainerugaba has ensured that sports remain an active tool of statecraft and institutional bonding rather than a forgotten afterthought.
As the curtains fell on the 2026 edition in Gulu, the ultimate takeaway was clear: sports and security are deeply intertwined. By prioritising physical fitness, fostering inter-agency brotherhood, honouring a historic legacy of athletic excellence, and embedding themselves within the community, Uganda’s security forces have proven that they are more than just guardians of the peace; they are active architects of national unity. In a world where security threats are constantly evolving, Uganda’s uniform-wearing athletes have shown that sometimes, the most effective way to protect the nation’s wealth and people is to build unbreakable synergies on the field of play.
The writer is the public information officer of the UPDF 4th Infantry Division
This rich pedigree extends seamlessly into the modern era. The younger generation of Ugandans vividly remembers Assistant Superintendent of Prisons (ASP) Stephen Kiprotich, whose unforgettable marathon victories at the London 2012 Olympics and the 2013 World Athletics Championships captivated the globe.
Today, that legacy is firmly carried forward by the legendary Assistant Superintendent of Prisons Joshua Cheptegei, whose astonishing collection of Olympic and World Championship gold medals has cemented Uganda’s status as a global athletics powerhouse. These athletes do more than win medals; they act as premier ambassadors for the state, projecting soft power and proving that the discipline learned in the barracks translates perfectly to global sporting excellence. Through the Inter-Forces Games, we are able to identify more talents to continue the legacy of uniformed personnel at national and international sporting arenas.
From Conflict to Cohesion: The Metamorphosis of Northern Uganda
Perhaps the most poignant aspect of the 18th Inter-Forces Games was its geographical setting. Holding a massive, celebratory security forces sports tournament at St. Joseph’s College Layibi in Gulu carried immense historical and symbolic weight.
For those who intimately knew Northern Uganda from the late 1980s until 2007, the region was once synonymous with the devastating warfare, unspeakable mayhem, and sheer brutality of Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). In those dark days, the relationship between the local civilian population and the security forces was often strained by fear, trauma, and deep-seated suspicion.
The vibrant scenes in Gulu in 2026 demonstrated how completely the region has shed its painful past. The legacy of suffering, insecurity, and misery has been decisively replaced by a new legacy of peace, development, progress, and commercial enterprise. The grounds were filled not with fearful onlookers, but with enthusiastic citizens from all walks of life, demonstrating the immense power of sports in fostering harmony and strengthening civil-military relations.
This spirit of national cohesion was visually mirrored by the diverse leadership that graced the event. The spiritual realm was united in prayer; at the opening ceremony on August 24, 2026, His Grace Raphael p’Mony Wokorach, the Archbishop of the Gulu Archdiocese, led the congregation in opening prayers, while his counterpart, Bishop Godfrey Loum, guided the closing spiritual reflections. Sitting calmly throughout the proceedings was His Eminence Sheikh Ismail Khalil, the Regional Assistant to the Mufti in charge of Northern Uganda. The Prime Minister of the Paramount Chief of Acholi (Ker Kwaro Acholi), alongside prominent political leaders and everyday citizens, attended the matches completely free of duress, celebrating alongside the very forces tasked with their protection. The games demonstrated a region that had metamorphosed from Conflict to Cohesion.
The successful execution and revitalisation of these games are a direct result of forward-thinking leadership at the highest levels of the defence establishment. The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who sent his deputy to represent him at the opening ceremonies, received widespread praise for giving the Inter-Forces Games a vibrant new lease of life. Through his deliberate funding, administrative approval, and strategic backing, Gen Kainerugaba has ensured that sports remain an active tool of statecraft and institutional bonding rather than a forgotten afterthought.
As the curtains fell on the 2026 edition in Gulu, the ultimate takeaway was clear: sports and security are deeply intertwined. By prioritising physical fitness, fostering inter-agency brotherhood, honouring a historic legacy of athletic excellence, and embedding themselves within the community, Uganda’s security forces have proven that they are more than just guardians of the peace; they are active architects of national unity. In a world where security threats are constantly evolving, Uganda’s uniform-wearing athletes have shown that sometimes, the most effective way to protect the nation’s wealth and people is to build unbreakable synergies on the field of play.
The writer is the public information officer of the UPDF 4th Infantry Division