Police warn security firms on operations

By Job Bwire

KAMPALA - Police have warned it would close and revoke licenses of any private security firm in the country that fails to observe the newly passed rules and regulations by Parliament.

The new rules that the House recently passed place emphasis on the minimum requirements of private security firms, training and welfare of personnel and guards.

Assistant Inspector of Police and director of operations, Grace Turyagumanawe said Police is in the process of creating a database to gather all the particulars of the 39,000 force in the private security business.

“We are working out a procedure to ensure that these rules and regulations [by Parliament] are followed and those that fail to comply shall have their licenses cancelled,” he warned.

Private security companies have come under criticism for allegedly perpetuating crimes like murder, robbery, assault, among others.

The firms are required to recruit people with at least an O’ Level qualification. They are also expected to retrain staff, offer attractive salaries, among several other requirements. This is aimed at curbing situations where staff are led into crime-related temptations.

The database, according to Turyagumanawe, will help Police monitor each and every personnel in the force and will subsequently help curb the high crime rates perpetuated by these firms.

“For instance those dismissed from one firm over misconduct shall never be allowed to be employed in another firm like it has always been the case."

“However, I am happy that we were able to create a database for all the guns in the country which has helped us to successfully reduce gun-related crimes in country,” he said.

The Assistant Inspector of Police made the revelations over the weekend in an interview with the New Vision shortly after the closure of Range Protective Services limited (RPSL)’s get-together party at Kati Kati Hotel Kampala.

He was representing the Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura as the chief guest.

There are 137 private security firms in the country with an estimated 39,000 forces, 70 of whom carry guns while the others do consultative and investigative work on security matters.

The RPSL chief operating officer, Rafic Peeradina pledged to work with Police in all their activities, including recruitment, training and retraining of their staff.

Peeradina said one of the challenges in private security business is the incidence of crime perpetuated by the officers.

“However, I am happy to note that we have not had any incident for the last four months and this is unusual,” he said.