More than 100 Uganda Police Force officers from different departments are undergoing Information and Communication Technology training aimed at strengthening their capacity to combat cybercrime and improve the collection, preservation and presentation of digital evidence.
The three-day training, facilitated by the National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U) and the Uganda Digital Acceleration Project, started on Monday, August 10, 2026, at the Civil Service College Uganda in Jinja City.
The course has attracted senior and junior police officers, including detectives, crime scene officers, IT specialists, records officers and front-desk officers from various police stations.
The first group comprises officers from Mukono, Kampala Metropolitan, Wakiso and Mpigi districts. The programme mainly targets officers at the lower and middle levels who receive complaints and handle cases at police stations.
The Acting Commissioner in charge of Training at the Uganda Police Force, ACP Moses Byabagye, officially opened the training. Mr. Byabagye said there were gaps in the police system caused by inadequate information gathering and handling of cases involving technology.
‘Training builds capacity and improves performance. We all undergo initial courses, but continuous capacity building is essential to strengthen the institution,’ Mr Byabagye said.
He said the workshop would help officers translate theoretical knowledge into practical skills, particularly in investigating crimes involving ICT and enforcing ICT-related laws.
‘This programme will help officers use lawful investigative methods, properly document evidence and minimise contamination,’ he said.
Mr Byabagye said evidence collected during investigations was sometimes poorly preserved, resulting in cases being dismissed when they reached court.
He added that the training would also help bridge communication gaps between investigators and prosecutors, noting that the two sides need to work closely to ensure successful prosecution of cases.
Mr Dida Mulushid Sengendo, the Activity Manager for Capacity Building and ICT Law at NITA-U under the Uganda Digital Acceleration Project, said the programme was part of a wider initiative to strengthen ICT capacity among public servants.
Mr Sengendo said the programme had started with police officers and would later be extended to other government departments.
He said the increasing number of cybercrime cases reported to police had prompted NITA-U to collaborate with the Uganda Police Force to strengthen officers’ capacity to investigate and handle such cases. ‘Over the past years, there have been increasing cases of cybercrime reported to police, which are reflected every financial year. This caught our attention as the body responsible for regulating information and communication technology in government,’ Mr. Sengendo said.
He said officers would receive training in digital forensics, handling cybercrime cases, ICT-related investigations and general cyber investigations.
‘Many people report cases involving financial fraud, computer misuse and other cyber-related offences to police, but some cases are not properly investigated or do not meet the requirements for prosecution in court,’ he said.
‘We have brought in cyber, forensic and legal experts to train officers on cybercrime and computer misuse so that evidence is properly prepared for court,’ Mr. Sengendo said.
He said the training would strengthen the capacity of police officers to implement ICT laws and ultimately contribute to reducing cybercrime in Uganda.