A Nation in Uniformed Despair: Uganda’s Police Suicide Crisis Demands the President’s Urgent Intervention
Police officers are not immune to stress. They are human beings first, law enforcers second. They bear witness to the worst of humanity — violent deaths, abuse, despair, and lawlessness — often with little to no psychological support. As civilians, we instinctively turn to the police for protection and guidance in moments of chaos. But when officers begin turning on themselves and their loved ones, the question we must confront is: Who is protecting the protectors?
Uganda Today Edition: A Nation in Uniformed Despair: Uganda’s Police Suicide Crisis Demands the President’s Urgent Intervention
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Kampala, Uganda – Tragedy after tragedy continues to haunt the Uganda Police Force, not from hostile criminals or battlefield foes, but from within its very own ranks. The latest heartbreaking case of Police Constable James Tembo, who allegedly took his own life on April 23, 2025, at the Kabalye training school, adds yet another name to a growing list of officers who have succumbed to psychological distress, often by the gun they swore to wield in defense of the nation.
The statistics may not be officially published, but the trail of gunfire echoes across newsrooms and social circles alike:
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On September 29, 2024, Alex Adei, attached to the Counter Terrorism Unit (CT), gunned down his wife inside Naguru Police Barracks.
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Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) David Ekwang was arrested in Jinja after he fatally shot Copol Atino Jennifer, who was attached to the Very Important Person Protection Unit (VIPPU) at Parliament.
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Another District Police Commander was discovered dead in a water tank under suspicious circumstances.
These are not isolated cases. They are symptomatic of a deep-rooted mental health and welfare crisis within the force — a crisis that threatens national security, public trust, and the sanctity of the badge.
Police officers are not immune to stress. They are human beings first, law enforcers second. They bear witness to the worst of humanity — violent deaths, abuse, despair, and lawlessness — often with little to no psychological support. As civilians, we instinctively turn to the police for protection and guidance in moments of chaos. But when officers begin turning on themselves and their loved ones, the question we must confront is: Who is protecting the protectors?
The Hidden Toll of Uniformed Service
Behind the salutes, drills, and patrols lies a chilling silence: the unspoken burden carried by Uganda’s law enforcement. Long hours, poor pay, traumatic deployments, overwhelming public expectation, and now, a shrinking national police budget have all conspired to push officers beyond the breaking point.
The very essence of command responsibility lies with leadership. It is therefore imperative that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, as the Commander-in-Chief and the symbolic father of the armed forces, takes immediate, personal interest in this unfolding national emergency.
A Call to Action: “Police Sons and the Father at the Table”
What we need now is not another commission of inquiry that buries findings under bureaucratic weight, but a sincere, symbolic and practical intervention from the very top. As a concerned citizen, I propose that the President hosts a special, closed-door national retreat — dubbed “Police Sons and the Father at the Table.” This day should bring together the police hierarchy, frontline officers, and counselors to engage in honest dialogue with the Head of State.
Let it be a day of listening, of healing, and of reimagining the welfare of the Uganda Police Force — not in theory, but in tangible action. Mental health counseling centers should be urgently established across all police divisions. A nationwide recruitment of professional counselors, trauma therapists, and peer-support trainers must begin immediately.
In Western democracies, it is standard for returning officers from peacekeeping or war zone deployments to undergo debriefing and psychological support. Why not here? Why must our own men and women silently bleed within?
The Budget Cuts That Hurt More Than Just Numbers
It is worth noting that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) is reportedly grappling with stress — a stress fueled in part by Parliament’s decision to reduce the police budget. This is no trivial issue. Fuel for emergency response vehicles, operations in criminal hotspots, salaries for specialized units, and essential infrastructure such as the proposed Police Hospital in Nsambya — all are hanging in the balance.
These cuts do not only threaten efficiency. They contribute directly to despair among officers, who see plans shelved and missions compromised. When officers lose hope in the system they serve, the outcome is fatal.
Final Appeal to the President
Mr. President, when a police officer ends their life, it’s not just a personal tragedy — it is a national alarm bell. Each gunshot fired in suicide or rage within the force tarnishes our image as a secure, functioning nation. These are your sons and daughters, molded by state institutions, entrusted with public safety, and now crying out for help.
Do not let the nation normalize uniformed suicide. Intervene now — not with words, but with will.
Published by www.ugandatoday.co.ug, your trusted source for news and analysis
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