IGP Revokes Licenses of 39 Private Security Organizations

Following the recent spate of gun violence in the country, the Inspector General of Police, IGP,  Martins Okoth Ochola has halted the operating licenses for thirty nine Private Security Companies. These companies failed to fulfill some or all of the necessary conditions for license renewal last year(2022) as per Regulation 14(d) of the Police (Control of Private Security Organisations) Regulations 2013.

CP Polly Namaye the Police Deputy Spokesperson has listed some of the conditions including;

1. An NSSF certificate of clearance.

2. Evidence of payment of gun licensing fees/ gun rental fees.

3. Evidence of annual inspection of the company.

According to CP Namaye, "a detailed list of these companies can be found at all Police Stations and Regional Police headquarters. All regional Police Commanders have been instructed to ensure that these companies halt their operations and ensure compliance to the suspension." A team of officers from Private Security and Firearms department have been instructed to conduct withdraw/ recovery of firearms from the respective PSOs.

Uganda Police Force continues to receive requests for license reinstatement from PSOs whose licenses were previously suspended. This will depend on whether the necessary conditions for renewal of the license have been fulfilled.

CP Polly Namaye said, "the Directorate of Operations has developed Standard Operating Procedures for all Private security Companies. Each PSO has been supplied a copy of the SOPs for compliance. Important to note is that each Private Security Guard shall receive mandatory training based on a standard training curriculum. Deployment of security guards shall depend on their successful accomplishment of this mandatory training."