In a hands-on tour of duty, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Abas Byakagaba, made a strategic visit to the Nagalama and Mukono Police Divisions, under the Kampala Metropolitan Police region.
His mission: to directly engage with officers, their leadership, and their families, and to reinforce the evolving vision of a people-centered police force committed to both national security and community development.
The IGP’s visit was marked by open dialogue and renewed commitment, as he shared the Uganda Police Force’s ongoing transformation agenda.
Central to his message was the Sub-county Policing Model, a grassroots-focused approach aimed at enhancing visibility, responsiveness, and trust between the police and the communities they serve.
He also called on officers to be active stakeholders in Uganda’s broader socio-economic development efforts by aligning with national initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, and the recently launched National Development Plan IV (NDP IV).
These programmes, he noted, are not only transformative for the communities but also instrumental in stabilizing the nation’s security environment.
During the engagements, officers expressed their appreciation for the IGP’s outreach and reaffirmed their dedication to upholding law and order. However, they also candidly raised concerns about persistent gaps in welfare, housing, and logistics, a reality many officers face on the ground.
Byakagaba listened attentively and acknowledged these challenges. He assured the officers that their wellbeing is not being overlooked and emphasized that their welfare, including access to decent accommodation and operational resources, is high on the force’s reform agenda.
He further reassured them of President Yoweri Museveni’s support, noting the President’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the police institution through better infrastructure, logistics, and morale-boosting interventions.
The visit also included an inspection of the Police Canine Breeding Centre in Nagalama, where the IGP expressed satisfaction with the progress made.
The facility plays a critical role in bolstering the force’s investigative and security capabilities. Impressed by the strides so far, the IGP pledged to invest further in modernizing the centre and enhancing its standards to meet international benchmarks.
By the end of the day, Byakagaba’s visit had left a clear message: the Uganda Police Force is not only being retooled for better service delivery but is also evolving into a proactive partner in national development. Through leadership engagements like these, the IGP continues to bridge the gap between policy and personnel—ensuring that transformation begins from the ground up.
