By Johnson Kanyesige
Police officers in the Albertine Region have embarked on assessing their readiness and building a comprehensive plan to keep law and order during the 2026 general elections.
The Electoral Commission has already intensified its activities ahead of the general elections with the nominations for LCV Chairpersons, Lord Mayors, City and District councilors, set to begin today, September 3, 2025, till Friday September 5, 2025.
Now speaking to Spice FM on Tuesday, Julius Allan Hakiiza, the Albertine South Regional Police Spokesperson says that on Monday this week, Police officers from the Albertine South region begun a five-day training at Kitara SS in Hoima City to assess their readiness in management of the forthcoming 2026 general elections especially handling chaotic and violent situations.
Hakiiza says this is a countrywide training with over 150 officers from greater Hoima and Kibaale districts being trained in Hoima City alone while those from Albertine North Regional Police being trained from Masindi Municipality to remind them on what they are supposed to do and how to behave in the forthcoming elections especially concerning the implementation of the public management order Act.
Hakiiza says the officers being trained include Commanders and Heads of Criminal Investigations Department, Traffic, Field Force Unit, General Regional heads of department, District Police Commanders among others, adding that they want to assess mindset and preparedness of all personnel, alongside equipping them with new skills necessary for effective election management.
He has advised the city dwellers to remain calm amidst the noise being heard during their training saying the Inspector General of Police and the President are all aware of the ongoing training which is crucial to prepare officers during any incidents that will occur in the general elections. He says they want to assess if the officers still recall how to use the teargas canisters or their guns among others because sometimes chaotic moments tend to overwhelm the officers if they are not fully skilled on what decision to do.
Idd Magezi the Hoima East division male councillor however has called out the security teams to always prepare the communities early enough before conducting such trainings instead of shocking them because a number of people experienced fear on Tuesday upon hearing suspected sounds of teargas and rubber bullets in the City.
Roggers Kiiza a resident of Kalyabuhire cell in Hoima East division says he was forced to come to Kitara SS to ascertain what was happening after the blasts went out loud however, he discovered it was a normal police training.
