Police have warned political candidates against moving with a personal security team at polling venues ahead of the January 15, 2026, General Election.
‘There have been complaints of security officers being seen in election operations, yet they are not officially deployed by the force commanders and are just being used by candidates. This time, we shall not allow unauthorised security officers in the field. In fact, we shall arrest them,’ said Busoga East regional police spokesperson, Mr Michael Kasadha.
According to Mr Kasadha, the release or hiring of security officers to candidates has also been stopped.
Mr Kasadha explained that in the previous election, candidates were allowed to hire their own security, but this was widely abused.
‘When we allow candidates to have private security, they end up directing them to act in their own interests, even though security is meant to serve everyone,’ Mr Kasadha said.
Mr Kasadha indicated that in cases where candidates, such as ministers, have assigned bodyguards, their role should be strictly limited to protection and not interfere with the electoral process.
He further cautioned security operatives against deploying themselves during polling, emphasising that sufficient manpower has been provided to handle any challenges faced by voters,’ Mr Kasadha said.
‘We have deployed enough security officers who will respond to any challenges that may arise,’ Mr Kasadha added.
According to him, the intensified deployment of police and military patrol officers in the Sub-region is meant to maintain peace, not to intimidate voters.
However, Mr Musa Kabugo, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) flag bearer in the Jinja South East race, disagreed with the decision to ban candidates from moving with their own security.
Mr Kabugo insisted that the police always fail to protect votes from being tampered with and sometimes conspire with the culprits.
‘Police do not help us when our votes are being tampered with, so they cannot stop me from carrying my own security,’ Mr Kabugo said.
He stressed that threats of arrest will not deter them from maintaining the groups set to guard votes.
Jinja City Mayor, Mr Peter Okocha Kasolo, welcomed the ban on private security groups for candidates during the elections.
Mr Kasolo, who is contesting as an independent candidate, noted that managing security during elections is solely the responsibility of the police, not candidates.
‘Ordinarily, the police are entrusted with maintaining law and order, and we must respect that,’ Mr Kasolo said.
Busoga region election supervisor, Mr Deo Natukunda, said at least two police officers will be deployed at each polling station to provide security.
‘But the police can increase this number as maintaining peace is their responsibility,’ Mr Natukunda said.
He advised candidates to follow police directives, as the force is in charge of election security.