Uganda Police

Like in colonial days, the police force largely remains an authoritarian instrument of state control of the public, taming perceived opponents of the state and for enforcing law and public order.

Before the creation of the Uganda Police there was a traditional method of dispute resolution. Uganda then had four kingdoms: Buganda, Ankole, Bunyoro-Kitara and Toro.

There were also other organized areas like Busoga, Bugisu, Teso, Acholi and Lango, all of which had cultural norms and systems of social control. Every tribal community had its own social policing method based on customary rules and obligations.

The kings and elders policed the wide communities; the elders policed villages while men policed their families. The elderly in general were responsible for enforcing discipline among the youth.

Police is born

Crimes were defined by the respective tribal community according to their agreed cultural norms and values. Punitive measures for cases of indiscipline would be determined by