The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
The Missing Link in Uganda’s Privatisation Story
COMMENT | MATHIAS RUKUBA | Uganda’s journey into privatisation, strongly accelerated under the Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs), was anchored on a simple but powerful promise: improve service delivery through efficiency and competition. Guided by reforms from institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, the state gradually stepped back from direct service provision, opening space for private actors to take the lead.
In many sectors, this shift has delivered visible gains; more schools, hospitals, financial institutions, and places of worship have emerged, increasing access and choice for Ugandans. However, beneath this growth lies a critical and often overlooked gap: the safety and security of the people who use these services.
While economic efficiency was prioritised, security governance was not equally institutionalised. Private institutions, ranging from schools and churches to day-care centres and hospitals, were left to independently determine their safety standards. This has resulted in inconsistent, and in many cases, inadequate security measures across the country.
Unlike financial or operational regulations, there is no universally enforced national safety framework guiding how these institutions should protect human life against physical threats such as the following:
- Unauthorized access and intrusion
- Fire outbreaks and emergency response gaps
- Crowd control risks in high-density gatherings
- Child protection vulnerabilities in schools and day-care centres
- Terror threats and criminal activity targeting soft targets
This regulatory gap exposes thousands of Ugandans, particularly children, patients, and worshippers, to preventable risks on a daily basis.
Many private service providers operate under tight financial constraints and competing priorities. As a result, investment in security is often minimal or reactive rather than proactive.
Key challenges include the following:
- Limited investment in security infrastructure (CCTV, access control, alarms)
- Absence of formal security policies and standard operating procedures
- Employment of undertrained or inadequately supervised security personnel
- Weak coordination with national security agencies such as the Uganda Police Force
- Lack of structured risk assessment and threat analysis mechanisms
In such an environment, security becomes an afterthought only taken seriously after an incident has occurred.
Institutions that bring people together, schools, churches, and hospitals are what security experts refer to as “soft targets”. Without proper safeguards, they become highly vulnerable to both opportunistic crime and organised threats.
Uganda has not been immune to incidents that highlight these vulnerabilities. While individual institutions may attempt to address risks internally, the absence of a coordinated national safety policy creates systemic exposure.
The result? A fragmented security landscape where the level of safety depends largely on an institution’s financial capacity rather than a national standard of protection.
To close this gap, Uganda must move beyond fragmented efforts and establish a comprehensive National Safety Policy for Public Institutions. Such a framework should do several things.
These are; Define minimum security standards for all high-occupancy institutions; Mandate regular security audits and compliance inspections; Require institutions to develop and implement security policies and emergency response plans; Standardise training and certification for private security personnel; Strengthen coordination between private institutions and national security agencies and Introduce accountability mechanisms for non-compliance
This is not about over-regulation; it is about safeguarding human life.
Security is not solely a government function, nor should it be left entirely to private entities. It requires a collaborative approach. Government sets the standards and enforces compliance; Private institutions invest in and implement security measures; Security professionals provide expertise and oversight and the public remains vigilant and informed
Is it time to rethink Privatisation? Privatisation has undeniably transformed Uganda’s service landscape. But efficiency without safety is incomplete progress.
As Uganda continues to grow, the question must shift from “Are services available?” to “Are these services safe?” Without deliberate policy intervention, the country risks building a system where access is expanded but protection is uncertain.
The time to act is now. A secure Uganda is not just about economic growth; it is about protecting the lives that growth is meant to serve.
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MATHIAS RUKUBA | Security Management Advisor & Security Consultant
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