Uganda Police has started merging several directorates under new Public Service guidelines aimed at reducing duplication, cutting costs and improving efficiency.
A senior police officer at police headquarters said yesterday that the force had formed a team of senior officers to guide the process.
The team is led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, whose name has been withheld. It has been attached to the Ministry of Public Service.
According to the officer, implementation has already started. The new structure will officially take effect in July 2026, at the start of the new financial year.
Nearly all government ministries, departments and agencies have directors. The Uganda Police Force currently has 18 directorates.
Director titles to be phased out
“The process of adjusting is underway. It has to be implemented with effect from July 2026, as we begin the new financial year, the title of director is vacated, and directors will now hold their ranks (Assistant Inspector General of Police). Their deputies will be the Senior Commissioner of Police,” the source said.
The officer said only six of the 18 police directorates will remain independent. The rest will be merged under the new structure.
Under the changes, the Directorate of Operations will absorb Traffic, Fire and Rescue Services, the Field Force Unit, ICT and the Directorate of Health Services.
The Directorate of Forensic Services will merge with the Criminal Investigations Directorate.
Human Resource Management will take over Research, Welfare and Production, as well as Human Resource Development and Training.
The Directorate of Legal Services will merge with International Police Relations.
However, the Directorates of Crime Intelligence, Logistics, Engineering and Counter Terrorism will remain independent.
Changes linked to rank harmonisation
The officer said the changes follow a directive by President Museveni to the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Inspector General of Police.
“This comes after the President wrote to the minister of Internal Affairs and the Inspector General of Police ordering them to harmonise the police ranks to match those of the army and prisons,” the officer said.
The source added that police will appoint a chief of staff for the operating directorates under the phased guidelines.
The force will also appoint a Joint Chief of Staff for the entire institution.
Public Service issued guidance to MDAs
Ms Catherine Bitarakwate, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service, wrote to all ministries, departments and agencies in September 2025.
She informed them about the planned phasing out of director positions.
She also said commissioners, or their equivalents in some departments, would face rationalisation after the merger of their responsibilities.
The source said the guidelines will also affect other positions within directorates and departments.
Police Spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke had not responded to calls by press time.
Background to government rationalisation
On February 22, 2021, Cabinet approved the Rationalisation of Government Agencies and Public Expenditure programme, commonly known as Rapex.
The programme later led Parliament to pass laws dissolving agencies such as the Uganda National Roads Authority and the Uganda Coffee Development Authority.
Government set December as the deadline for completing the exit process. It expects to pay benefits by June this year.
