As Uganda gears up for the 2026 general elections, the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) of the Uganda Police Force has launched a specialized center to monitor political and electoral offenses.
The initiative is part of broader efforts to safeguard the electoral process and ensure national security during the campaign and voting periods.
During a high-level meeting with all divisional and district CID officers at the CID headquarters in Kibuli, Director Tom Magambo officially introduced the facility to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Abas Byakagaba, giving him a guided tour of the new center.
The session focused on preparations for the upcoming polls, with security coordination and readiness being top priorities.
“We have a bigger part of Ugandans who are ready to cast their votes and peacefully continue building our country,” Magambo stated, adding a warning:
“But there are a few elements out there who think they can use this opportunity to disorganize our elections.”
Magambo emphasized that the newly established monitoring system would play a crucial role in protecting the integrity of the elections, assuring Ugandans that the country’s safety is a top concern under the leadership of the IGP.
In response, IGP Byakagaba commended the CID’s progress and reaffirmed the police force’s commitment to peaceful, transparent elections.
“In working together with you and other security organizations, we are going to deliver the most peaceful election in this country. But by extension, I would like to just share information with those who do not want to conform with the laws of this country, with the regulations put in place by the Electoral Commission that they will not find us wanting,” he said.
“We are going to do all it takes to ensure that the election exercise are carried out in a peaceful environment, without any hindrance by those who think they can disorganize the exercise. But I’m also depending on the promise that all Ugandans are interested in having a very peaceful election, and all of us are working towards that,” he added.
Byakagaba also outlined broader security strategies already in motion.
The Uganda Police Force has zoned the country into nine areas for efficient election security management and developed an inter-agency security master plan to coordinate across various government units.
Additionally, he revealed that 10,000 new police constables are currently undergoing training to boost manpower ahead of the elections.