Thin line of defence: Uganda’s private security boom is cracking from within

By dawn or evening each day, tens of thousands of private security guards begin their shifts outside banks, supermarkets, office blocks, and construction sites across Uganda.

They stand at gates with metal detectors that barely work, or patrol compounds in faded uniforms, watching for threats with a vigilance shaped more by instinct than training. They are everywhere, and yet largely invisible.

Uganda now relies on more than 100,000 private security guards, employed by 426 licensed firms, to supplement the overstretched police force. In some urban areas, private guards outnumber police officers several times over. They have become a quiet backbone of daily safety, often arriving at crime scenes before state forces.

But behind that crucial role lies an industry straining under the weight of inadequate training, unresolved firearm issues, and low pay that experts warn could compromise national security itself.

Those concerns took centre stage last week at The Uganda Private Security Association’s (TUPSA) inaugural symposium, held at Protea hotel, where police commanders, policymakers and security firm leaders gathered to confront uncomfortable truths about a sector that has grown too big and too essential to ignore.

Grace Matsiko, the TUPSA chairperson, began the symposium with a candid assessment that cut through the ceremonial tone of the morning.

“The issue of training has never been resolved. We also lack firearms,” he said, his voice firm.

The room, filled with firm owners, guards and policymakers, fell quiet. Uganda’s private guards operate on the frontline, yet many receive only a few days of induction before being deployed. Those responsible for securing billions in assets often earn salaries that barely meet transport costs.

Firearm shortages mean some guards work unarmed in high-risk zones. Matsiko shared a story that underscored both the strength and fragility of the system: private guards in Kazo district who recovered stolen livestock and resisted a hefty bribe.

“Their dedication is real,” he said. “But dedication alone cannot compensate for structural gaps.”

POLICE: ‘BETTER DAYS ARE COMING—AFTER ELECTIONS’

The Uganda Police Force, which regulates private security organisations under Statutory Instrument No. 11 of 2013, admits the partnership has not always been smooth. AIGP Frank Mwesigwa, director of Operations, said efforts to harmonise operations between police and private security firms began years ago.

“We have had several meetings and developed policy frameworks to ensure alignment,” he said.

But then came the election cycle. Training agreements faltered. Coordination slowed. Planned reforms were shelved. Now, police say reforms will resume after the 2026 general elections. Mwesigwa also voiced a concern that rarely gets said aloud: “If somebody is armed and is not getting reasonable remuneration, he might use [the firearm] to make money.”

It was a blunt reminder that low wages not only diminish morale, but they can also become security risks. The inspector general of police, AIGP Abbas Byakagaba, placed the conversation in a broader context. Uganda’s crime landscape, he warned, is shifting rapidly.

From cybercrime to transnational trafficking networks to the resurgence of armed robberies, today’s threats require tools far more sophisticated than a torch and whistle.

“The growth of licensed private security is a national asset when properly regulated and integrated,” he said.

He traced the sector’s evolution from early state-run entities like Securiko to today’s expansive private ecosystem under the Police Act (Cap 324) and 2013 regulations. He described private guards as “force multipliers”—often the first responders who secure a scene long before police arrive.

But he also cautioned that the industry must adapt to modern crime patterns by embracing surveillance technologies, artificial intelligence and advanced monitoring tools. “The changing crime patterns demand investment in new innovations,” he said.

UGANDA DEPENDS ON PRIVATE GUARDS

Across Kampala, private guards protect nearly every commercial building. They manage access control at malls, screen visitors at hotels, secure ATMs, escort corporate cash movements, and even guard schools and churches.

Yet many guards operate under precarious conditions. They endure long shifts with barely any rest, earn salaries that are often low or delayed, and work without reliable insurance or health benefits.

The majority receive only limited tactical training and are supervised inconsistently, leaving them vulnerable even as they protect others. Experts warn that such fragility in a sector this large constitutes a national risk.

Any instability, whether from poor working conditions, inadequate oversight or firearm mismanagement, could ripple across Uganda’s economy and security landscape. ‘

A GUARD IS NOT LOW-SKILLED LABOUR’

Dr Solomon Asiimwe, a widely respected security analyst, delivered one of the sharpest assessments of the day. He argued that Uganda’s private security ecosystem had grown too big, too essential, to continue operating under outdated and fragmented laws.

“The sector must shift the perception of a security guard from low-skilled labour to a trained and motivated guard,” he said.

His message was blunt: professionalism is not optional. It is the only safeguard against a system whose weaknesses threaten both guards and the public they protect. Asiimwe noted the troubling gaps, weak licensing standards, inconsistent enforcement and slow regulatory reform, even as demand for private guards surges in the wake of economic expansion, urbanisation and rising levels of commercial crime.

Private security guards in Uganda are often the first responders in burglary cases, the first to make emergency calls, the first to secure a crime scene. Many companies even compensate clients after losses incurred under their watch, an incentive that has driven high demand for private guards across businesses and homes.

Yet the state remains the ultimate regulator, with the Police Act and 2013 statutory instruments placing strict oversight powers in the hands of the inspector general of police. That oversight, Asiimwe warned, needs strengthening and modernisation to match the realities on the ground.

A SECTOR THAT SAVES THE STATE BILLIONS

In their presentation to parliament this year, TUPSA leadership described an industry that emerged partly out of structural government cuts. After IMF-backed reforms reduced the size of Uganda’s military, thousands of former servicemen found employment in private security, providing the state an economically convenient buffer.

Private security now guards everything from oil and gas sites to tourism facilities, and has assumed roles that would otherwise require thousands more police officers. Yet operators say government recognition lags behind their contribution.

They point to a series of frustrations that have built up over the years: heavy taxation, including levies on basic meals like posho and beans for guards; long delays in securing an audience with the president; licensing fees that shift unpredictably from one office to another; and the lack of affordable credit for purchasing vehicles, ICT systems or protective gear.

Together, these pressures have left many companies feeling squeezed, even as demand for their services continues to grow.

“Private security is saving the government billions,” one TUPSA leader said. “But the appreciation of our role is minimal.”

THE PUSH FOR TAX RELIEF: ‘WE PROVIDE AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE’

TUPSA has proposed sweeping tax reforms aimed at stabilising a sector weighed down by high operating costs and delayed payments from clients. Among their requests:

• VAT cash accounting, to protect firms from filing VAT before clients pay them.

• VAT exemption on private security services, since most of the inputs (fuel, salaries, equipment) are already VAT-exempt.

• PAYE exemption for private guards, just as government security agencies enjoy.

• Income tax exemption on earnings from security services.

• Duty-free importation of security-specific vehicles and motorcycles. Members argue that private guards are essential workers and should be treated as such.

They also warn that delays in payment—especially from government agencies—leave companies unable to meet tax obligations or pay guards fairly. Access to affordable credit, they say, would allow companies to purchase surveillance technology, upgrade equipment, and extend operations into rural areas.

Throughout the symposium, one issue surfaced repeatedly—firearms. Uganda’s private security guards collectively operate more than 25,000 firearms, making training, oversight and discipline a national security priority.

Yet firearm shortages, limited training and low salaries create risks the state can no longer ignore. It was an unsettling reminder that Guards often work long shifts under poor conditions, with little insurance or mental health support—factors that can influence behaviour in high-pressure situations.

THE ROAD AHEAD: REFORM OR RUIN

The symposium was not just a gathering; it was a warning signal. Uganda’s security architecture is changing, with private guards now forming an indispensable—but vulnerable—layer of defence.

The consensus among stakeholders was clear: the system must be rebuilt on stronger foundations. That means:

• Rigorous, standardised training.

• Transparent firearm management.

• Fair wages and welfare protections.

• Clear communication channels with police.

• Investment in modern security technologies.

Without these reforms, officials warn, Uganda risks relying on a security workforce that is both essential and ill-equipped.