Police in Uganda have this week confiscated high visibility vests, jackets, sunglasses, and black attires from bouncers and other private security officers, which were making them appear more militaristic and combat hardened.

The uniforms, the police force says, were wrongly influencing perceptions of the public into believing that the said bouncers and private security officers were police officers when they are not.

“We… continue to observe an increase in the manipulation of police uniforms, where private security organizations, Bouncers Associations, Political groups and individuals, have adopted the darker black uniforms for the counter-terrorism police, Khakhi for General Duties, white uniforms for the Traffic Police, among others, as well as rank insignia (PIPS), shoes, belts and lanyards. They purposely adopt these uniforms to appear authoritarian and militaristic. Some wear them to convey a more aggressive message to the public,” the Uganda Police Force says.

Police Spokesperson Enanga Fred says that the police uniform is one of the most recognizable symbols in Ugandan society, and it serves to readily identify, officers to members of the public and distinguish them from civilians.

“This distinction assist the public by indicating who they should approach, when in trouble and generally creates a sense of safety. Furthermore, the uniform projects an officer’s authority to arrest and protects them from interference by the public, when controlling a situation, including the use of force,” Enanga says.

The Uganda Police now say that this behaviour is illegal and must stop immediately, quoting Private Security Organizations Regulations 23(3) of Statutory Instrument 2013 NO.11, and The Police (Control of PSOs), which give guidance.

The police insist that the unauthorised duplication and manipulation of rank insignia and accoutrements of the police and other sister agencies like the Uganda People Defence Forces and Prisons Services is a violation of the laws, under the UPDF Act, Penal Code and other Statutory instruments that gazette the uniforms.