Uganda Police to Introduce New Senior Rank and Five-Zone Command Structure

The Uganda Police Force is set to introduce a new senior leadership position above the current Assistant Inspector General of Police rank as part of a wider restructuring of the force's command system. Inspector General of Police Abas Byakagaba unveiled the proposal at a meeting with senior commanders at Police Headquarters in Naguru. The proposed position, Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police, aims to create an additional leadership level above the current AIGP rank.

The new rank is part of a broader institutional review aimed at making the force's leadership leaner, more accountable, and better suited to its size and workload. Byakagaba stated that the force needs another level of command but wants to keep the number of officers at the highest level relatively small. Currently, the force is headed by the Inspector General of Police and his deputy, both presidential appointees. The Assistant Inspector General of Police is the highest substantive rank, held by officers who head directorates.

The proposed rank would introduce another tier between the AIGPs and the office of the IGP. This move follows a wider institutional review, building on an earlier exercise conducted more than a decade ago. Byakagaba emphasized the need for real empowerment of commanders, warning that new titles and responsibilities would mean little if officers lacked the resources to perform their duties.

The police force plans to reorganize regional policing into five broad zones beginning in 2027. Kampala Metropolitan, which already operates as a zone, would retain its status, while four additional zones would be created from the rest of the country. Each zone would be headed by an officer senior to a Regional Police Commander, with authority to mobilize personnel, logistics, and funds, as well as make operational decisions.

Byakagaba also announced plans to improve infrastructure, including the construction of multi-storey accommodation for personnel, a dedicated police hospital, and a modern forensic laboratory. The Canine Unit is being strengthened, with ten vehicles already secured and plans to acquire another 40 to support detection and tracking operations across the country.

The police force will change the way it reports its performance to the public, expanding the annual crime report to include police activities during the year, such as operations, community engagements, and institutional reforms. Byakagaba challenged commanders to move away from a policing approach that waits for crimes to occur before responding, instead urging them to strengthen systems that prevent crime.

Effective investigations, according to Byakagaba, serve as a deterrent by demonstrating that offenders will be held accountable. He singled out CCTV operators, urging them to move beyond passively monitoring screens and adopt active surveillance by identifying suspicious behavior and alerting relevant officers early enough to prevent incidents. The planned restructuring must bring practical changes to policing, rather than simply altering titles and reporting arrangements on paper.

Key points

• The Uganda Police Force is introducing a new senior leadership position, Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police, as part of a wider restructuring of the force's command system.