In an effort to strengthen security, observance of law and security across the country and in line with the doctrine of community policing and the Presidential directive, the Uganda Police Force has refocused its posture and also adjusted its structures, systems and procedures to focus on the sub county policing model.

Addressing the media at the police headquarters in Naguru on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, the Inspector General of Police, Abbas Byakagaba explained that the sub county policing model is an initiative aimed at decentralizing the policing services to every sub county, municipal and town council in Uganda.

President Yoweri Museveni in 2020 asked police to establish sub county policing model where each sub county should have a police station with 18 or 20 officers and four motorcycles, two of which are for emergencies.

According to Byakagaba, following a special police advisory committee meeting on January 2, 2025, a task force was established to accelerate the implementation of this model.

“With the sub-county policing model, we shall achieve quick response to incidents and real time attention to matters affecting local communities. We hope at the minimum, we shall attain 85% of attention in real time of calls to people,” Byakagaba said.

He said that there will be deployment of 18 personnel at each sub county, municipal or town council.

‘’There will be a Commander, OC station, 12 personnel from the general duties for purposes of carrying out patrols, an officer from Criminal Investigation Directorate, an officer from crime intelligence, an officer from family and child protection unit and a community liaison officer for purposes of connecting with the general population,’’ he said.

The IGP mentioned that three motorcycles will be distributed per sub county, radio communication between the forces carrying out patrols, and a counter phone.

‘’We will make sure that all persons are made aware of this number so that it is easy for the officers to easily communicate to the police station and the response will be very quick,’’ Byakagaba said.

The first phase of implementation will take place in nine regions of North West Nile, Rwizi, and Kira Rwenzori east, Sipi region, greater Masaka, greater Bushenyi and Albertine.

He explained that with the new policing model, the police will be able to achieve optimum utilization of resources but also support and enable the success of government programs.

“We also expect to support and enable success of government programs like PDM, Emyooga, and all the other activities by individual citizens for purposes of enhancing wellbeing,”Byakagaba said.

The Uganda Police Force aims to have the sub-county policing model fully operational across all 2,190 sub-counties by February 5, 2025.