2026 elections: Police reminded to manage public order with professionalism

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As the country prepares for the 2026 general elections, the Uganda Police Force (UPF) has been urged to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, teamwork and impartiality in managing public order.

Richard Gulume, the resident city commissioner (RCC) for Jinja, explained that teamwork within the Police would ensure a peaceful, credible and orderly election.

Gulume stressed the importance of the Police’s role in law enforcement, safeguarding peace and upholding democratic integrity. He noted that their mandate was to protect, not provoke.

“Security personnel must remain neutral, act with restraint and respect the rights of all citizens during the electoral period because professionalism of our police force will determine the credibility and safety of this election,” he said.

The RCC made the remarks on September 12, 2025, while passing out 200 officers from the Kiira region who had completed a four-day intensive public order management training at Gaddafi Police Barracks Primary School grounds.

Gulume noted that managing public order in Jinja city, which he described as the "sitting room" of Busoga region, was essential to ensuring a peaceful election period in 2026.

“When we are talking about Jinja as the sitting room of Busoga, it is a common place where people gather for many reasons. As security, we have to ensure the place is peaceful before, during and after the elections,” he said.

He commended the Police for maintaining peace and security during the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party structural elections and the recently concluded nomination exercise without major incidents.

Gulume further explained that the country is entering the “real arena” of politics, with campaigns and possible riots, where the Police must act impartially.

“We don’t have any enemies in this electoral process; we have to provide security to protect everybody, including the rioters. Only arrest those rioting, rehabilitate and push them back into communities because Uganda will still exist after elections,” he said.

Gulume cautioned officers against using excessive force. 

He said during riots, they should not “shoot to kill” but only fire warning shots to scare and disperse crowds in order to protect lives and property. He also warned against delayed responses to incidents, which can escalate into disorder.

Abdallah Kitimbo of the Field Force Unit (FFU), overseeing the exercise in the Kiira and Ssezibwa regions, said the upcoming elections may trigger public concerns over unrest.

To address this, the police have rolled out nationwide training on crowd control, human rights and conflict de-escalation. 

“We are ready to provide security across the country without fear or favour. Officers have been instructed to act within the confines of the law and uphold the Constitution at all times because professional policing builds public confidence among communities,” Kitimbo said.

Charles Nsaba, the Kiira region police commander, said the training aimed to remind officers of their professional responsibilities in ensuring law and order.

“As we enter the electoral process, let’s be mindful of the police image by being professional. This will be achieved through doing exactly what you’re told while following the principles of legality, proportionality and use of force while keeping POM,” he urged.

He further warned officers against mismanaging situations after the training, saying the government had invested heavily in their preparation, and it was their duty to secure Ugandans and their property.