The Inspector General of Police, Abas Byakagaba, has ordered regional refresher public order management trainings for all 30 policing regions ahead of the general elections campaigns.
The trainings are intended to remind police commanders and their juniors on how to handle election campaigns and related challenges.
Sources said the IGP through the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) indicated that he doesn’t want to see a repeat of the incidents that marred the 2020/2021 general elections campaign period as well the polling days. “There were a lot of mistakes which we need to avoid this time and we can avoid this by reminding ourselves of our duties regarding public order management. Every region should conduct refresher trainings on public order management before the general campaigns start,” sources said quoting the IGP.
Although PAC sat a fortnight ago and passed the resolution for refresher public order management trainings, some regions have started the refresher trainings this week and the IGP himself is meeting commanders of the different regions ranging from Regional Police Commanders (RPCs), and Division/District Police Commanders (DPCs).
The IGP yesterday met senior commanders of North Kyoga and Aswa West regions where he emphasized the importance of grassroots policing, committed to improving personnel welfare, and urged preparedness for the upcoming elections.
SP Rachael Kawala, the Wamala Regional Police Spokesperson, confirmed that the refresher public order management trainings have commenced in their area. “In preparation of the forthcoming general elections, officers within Wamala region are undergoing a training in Public Order Management (POM). The training is taking place at Naama Primary School in Mityana district,” SP Kawala said.
In Wamala region, 201 officers from districts of Mityana, Kassanda, Kyankwanzi, Mubende and Kiboga are undergoing the training. The Rwenzori East region started its five days public order management refresher training yesterday and it is also being attended by more than 200 police officers.
Police say the trainings are aimed at enhancing skills of officers in crowd control, tactical maneuvers, conflict resolution, and risk assessment to ensure effective operations ahead of the 2026 general elections. SP Kawala explained that their rehearsals are well planned and executed with strict adherence to safety standards and have appealed to the public not to panic.
The 2020/2021 election process was characterised by violence and several accusations of police officers conniving with politicians to alter results. But also, the abrupt arrest of then National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine by police commanded by Frank Mwesigwa who is also the current director of police operations services sparked protests.
The November 18th and 19th protests mostly in Buganda and Busoga left 54 people shot to death by security agencies. All this was blamed on insufficient skills in crowd and riotous control by many military and police personnel who straight away opted for live bullets instead of other non-lethal means.
As one of the ways to prevent the possible occurrence of the last elections ugly scenes, police have prioritised Field Force Unit (FFU) and operation commanders who are always at the forefront to engage crowds. In the ongoing trainings, FFU and commanders are demonstrating scenarios that require the use of teargas, baton charge, rubber and live bullets. URN