The Inspector General of Police, Martins Okoth Ochola, has taken the decision to suspend the operating licenses of 39 private security companies in Uganda. This action comes in response to the companies’ failure to meet the necessary conditions for license renewal as per Regulation 14(d) of the Police (Control of Private Security Organisations) Regulations 2013. The suspension aims to address the increasing incidents of gun violence in the country.
Some of the conditions that the affected firms failed to fulfill include obtaining an NSSF certificate of clearance, providing evidence of payment for gun licensing fees or gun rental fees, and demonstrating evidence of annual company inspections.
A detailed list of the suspended companies can be found at all Police Stations and Regional Police headquarters. Regional Police Commanders have been directed to ensure that these companies cease their operations and comply with the suspension. Officers from the Private Security and Firearms department will oversee the withdrawal and recovery of firearms from the respective private security organizations (PSOs).
The Uganda Police Force has received requests from PSOs seeking license reinstatement, and the suspension will be lifted if the necessary conditions for license renewal are met.
To improve the overall standards and operations of private security companies, the Directorate of Operations has developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all PSOs. Each PSO has received a copy of the SOPs for compliance. Mandatory training based on a standard curriculum will be provided to all private security guards, and their deployment will depend on the successful completion of this training.
This announcement comes in the wake of recent cases of gun violence across the country, some involving security guards attached to private firms. The Uganda Police Force is concerned about these incidents, emphasizing that they are not a result of organized crime or targeted attacks but rather isolated and reckless shootings. The Force acknowledges the need to address underlying societal issues contributing to such violence.
The recent shooting incidents reported include a case in Tororo, where a Saracen security guard allegedly shot and killed a colleague over a personal dispute, and an incident in Mbarara, where a police officer shot and killed a UPDF officer due to a personal conflict. Additionally, an incident occurred in Mukono, where a counter-terrorism officer mistakenly shot and injured a university student, believing her to be a burglar.
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