Police Act

Cap 324 | Last Updated: 31 December 2023

1.Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires'

"arrestable offence" means an offence which on conviction may be punished by a term of imprisonment of one year or more, or a fine of not less than five currency points, or both;

"Assistant Commissioner" means an officer of the rank of Assistant Commissioner of police in accordance with this Act;

"Assistant Inspector General of Police" means an officer of the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police;

"Assistant Superintendent" includes a Cadet Assistant Superintendent;

"attested member" means a police officer, regardless of rank, who has completed the training course, taken the requisite oath and been listed in the Force as a member;

"Code" means the Disciplinary Code of Conduct prescribed under section 45;

"Commissioner of Police" means an officer of the rank of Commissioner of Police;

"Constable" means a police officer below the rank of corporal;

"Constitution" means the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda;

"currency point" has the value assigned to it in Schedule I to this Act;

"Deputy Inspector General" means the Deputy Inspector General of Police appointed under Article 213 of the Constitution;

"Force" means the Uganda Police Force established by Article 211 of the Constitution;

"Inspector General" means the Inspector General of Police appointed under Article 213 of the Constitution;

"Inspector of Police" means an officer of the rank of inspector and includes an assistant inspector of police;

"legal officer" means a police officer designated as a legal officer under this Act;

"local government" means the local councils established under the Local Governments Act;

"magistrate" means a magistrate appointed under the Magistrates Courts Act;

"Minister" means the Minister responsible for internal affairs;

"officer in charge of police" means a police officer not being below the rank of inspector appointed by the Inspector General to be in charge of a police station or a police unit in an area;

"Police Appeals Court" means the highest disciplinary court established by section 52 of this Act;

"Police Authority" means'

(a)in relation to the Force, the Police Authority established under section 8;

(b)in relation to local government police, the administration of the area in which that Force is established;

"Police Council" means the Police Council established by section 10;

"police officer" means any attested member of the police Force;

"police unit" means a police establishment or formation with an officer in charge or with an officer in command at or within a district;

"private security organisation" means a private security organisation registered under the Companies Act;

"region" means any area of Uganda declared by the Inspector General to constitute a regional or extra regional police command;

"Regional Commander" means a police officer appointed by the Inspector General to be in command of the police in any region or extra region;

"regional police court" means a disciplinary court established at the regional police headquarters or at the Force headquarters;

"responsible officer" means'

(a)in the case of a senior police officer, the regional police commander;

(b)in the case of a subordinate police officer, the district police commander;

(c)in any other case, the officer in charge of a police unit;

"senior police officer" means an officer of or above the rank of assistant superintendent;

"subordinate police disciplinary court" means a police disciplinary court lower than a regional police disciplinary court;

"subordinate police officer" means a police officer of or below the rank of inspector;

"superintendent" includes senior superintendent, senior assistant superintendent and assistant superintendent;

"unit commander" means the officer in charge of a district or a police unit within a district."

2.Establishment of Uganda Police Force

There is established a Force known as the Uganda Police Force.

3.Composition of Force

The Force shall be composed of'

(a)the regular Uganda Police Force;

(b)the Uganda Police Reserve established under section 67;

(c)special constables appointed under section 65;

(d)the local government police established by section 68; and

(e)any other person appointed as a member of the Force under this Act.

4.Functions of Force

(1)Subject to the Constitution and this Act, the functions of the Force are'

(a)to protect the life, property and other rights of the individual;

(b)to maintain security within Uganda;

(c)to enforce the laws of Uganda;

(d)to ensure public safety and order;

(e)to prevent and detect crime in the society;

(f)subject to section 9, to perform the services of a military Force;

(g)to cooperate with civilian authorities and other security organs established under the Constitution and with the population generally; and

(h)to perform any other functions assigned to the Force under this Act.

(2)Subject to section 6(1)(c), a member of the Force is authorised to carry arms in the performance of his or her duties.

(3)No person shall arrest, detain or institute criminal proceedings except as is provided for under a written law or the Constitution.

5.Inspector General and Deputy Inspector General

(1)The Uganda Police Force shall be under the command of the Inspector General of Police, whose office shall be a public office.

(2)In the performance of his or her functions under subsection (1), the Inspector General shall be subject to and act in accordance with the laws of Uganda except that on matters of policy the Minister may give directions to the Inspector General, and the Inspector General shall comply with those directions.

(3)There shall also be a Deputy Inspector General who shall assist the Inspector General in carrying out his or her functions.

(4)The Inspector General and the Deputy Inspector General shall, subject to the Constitution and to this Act, be appointed by the President.

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This is the complete text of Police Act (Cap 324). For legal advice, please consult a qualified lawyer.