Over 130 Bunyoro Police officers undergo tactical, crowd control training

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HOIMA -- A total of 138 Albertine South Region (Bunyoro)-based Police officers, who will manage the 2026 General Election, have undergone training.

Albertine South region Police commander, Frantile Lwamusayi, says the Police officers of different ranks were trained and equipped with tactical skills, crowd control techniques and detective response to public order situations.

He says the officers went through a one-week vigorous refresher training because of the need to manage the elections professionally to ensure peace and stability during and after the elections.

While passing out the Police officers at Kitara Secondary School in Hoima city, Maj. Gen. Leopold Kyanda, Uganda's Defence Attaché to Belgium and Head of Security and Mobilisation in Hoima City in 2026, commended the Police leadership for the initiative, adding that such training is important in preparing for free and fair elections.

He noted that the Police and sister security agencies need to be prepared to provide security, ensuring that all registered voters exercise their right to vote for their leaders without intimidation.

“Every voter in Bunyoro [region] has the right to vote freely. Candidate and party supporters also have a right to campaign peacefully. Peace is very important because we know that in the recent past, there have been people while campaigning, intimidated others; this will not be accepted because it will be against the rights of voters. Police presence will ensure that no one is harassed, intimidated or prevented from participating in the democratic process,” he said.

He also challenged the candidates to follow the electoral law if the election processes are to be peaceful, free and fair and urged the trained Police officers to stick to the skills they acquired during the training to ensure that they ethically serve the public.

The Hoima City Resident Commissioner, Baduru Mugabi, noted that such refresher trainings are important and timely, adding that reminding the Police officers of their roles will help them avert election violence.

Seated with a stick (third right) is Major General Leopold Kyanda, posing for a photo with the trained police officer after the pass out at Kitara secondary school. (Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi)

The Hoima city Mayor said the training is timely and underscored the need to engage the citizens (community) to know that going for an election does not mean going for violence.

He noted that candidates and supporters have a responsibility to ensure free, peaceful and fair elections by following electoral laws, adding that if all stakeholders work within the law, no violence can be registered during and after the election.