Uganda’s Esteri M. Akandwanaho joins global security governance body

When Esteri M. Akandwanaho received the news from Geneva, it marked more than a personal milestone.

It signalled a rare moment of global recognition for Uganda’s often overlooked private security industry. Akandwanaho, the chairperson of Saracen Uganda Limited, has been elected to the governing board of the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA), a Geneva-based body that sets ethical and human rights standards for private security companies worldwide.

In doing so, she becomes the first Ugandan, and the first representative from East Africa, to sit on the organisation’s board. For a sector that has long operated in the shadows of public policing, the appointment places Uganda’s private security industry firmly in an international conversation about accountability, professionalism and human rights.

Akandwanaho will serve a three-year term as Africa’s representative on the ICoCA board, following an election process concluded after a meeting convened by the Uganda Private Security Association (TUPSA) on November 14, 2025.

A GLOBAL BODY, A LOCAL STORY

ICoCA is not a ceremonial body. It brings together governments, private security companies, and civil society organisations to oversee adherence to the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers, a framework designed to prevent abuse, promote transparency, and ensure respect for human rights in an industry that increasingly operates across borders.

Its board shapes how those standards are interpreted, enforced and expanded. That Uganda now has a voice at that table matters, particularly at a time when private security firms are playing an expanding role across Africa, guarding everything from businesses and infrastructure to humanitarian operations.

In a letter addressed to Grace Matsiko, the chairperson of TUPSA, Akandwanaho described her election as both an honour and a collective achievement.

“I extend my heartfelt thanks to you and the esteemed members of TUPSA for the assistance rendered during the nomination and voting phase,” she wrote, adding that the process demonstrated “the power of cooperation within Uganda’s private security sector.”

She singled out several firms that supported the process, including G4S Secure Solutions Uganda, GardaWorld Uganda, Askar Security Services, Kun Lion Security and Saracen Uganda Limited, calling their participation “highly significant.”

FROM LOCAL INDUSTRY TO GLOBAL STANDARDS

For years, Uganda’s private security sector has operated largely as a domestic industry, regulated locally and often viewed through the narrow lens of guarding services. Akandwanaho’s appointment reframes that picture.

She sees the role as an opportunity to project Uganda, and Africa more broadly, as a contributor to global norms, not just a recipient of them.

“As is our custom, Saracen Uganda Limited is committed to collaborating with the broader industry to ensure that Uganda and Africa are recognised for their responsible security practices,” she said.

Her message reflects a wider ambition: to move African private security firms from the margins of global governance into its centre, where rules are debated and standards are set. Akandwanaho has pledged to remain closely engaged with TUPSA and other sector players throughout her tenure, stressing that her position on the ICoCA board would be used to advance shared goals and strengthen cooperation across the industry.

WHY THIS APPOINTMENT MATTERS

Private security firms now outnumber public police forces in many countries, Uganda included. They guard offices, homes, factories and events, often operating at the thin line between public safety and private interest.

Yet regulation and oversight have not always kept pace with their growth. ICoCA was created to address precisely that gap — ensuring that private security providers respect human rights, operate transparently and remain accountable for their actions.