The Uganda Police Force still continues to have an unpredictable image before the public. This is because there is a section of the police that is professional and knowledgeable about the best policing practices; but there is also a section that is still confined to acts of brutality, torture, dishonesty to mention a few. This has made it very difficult to rate the performance of the police. Consequently, the institution suffers the bad image and has resulted into inadequate support and participation of the public in matters of security and combating crime.

In order for the police to effectively carry out its duties to the benefit of the civilian population, there is need to tackle major deficiencies. Critical among these deficiencies are: corruption-as demonstrated by the various reports of the Inspector General of Government (IGG), human rights abuses- as documented in the various reports of the Ugandan Human Rights Commission (UHRC), the Human Rights Desk and various NGOs and political partisanship in the current political atmosphere of emerging multi-party dispensation.

The progressive centralization of the Police, demonstrated by the emergence of central military units to address serious organized crime needs to be tackled, particularly in light of the decentralization process initiated with the Constitution (Amendment) (No.2) Bill. The recruitment of informers, as established in Operation Wembley, later called the Violent Crime Crack Unit (VCCU) and now the Rapid Response Unit (RRU), within the Police Force has to be watched to ensure that it remains professional and is committed to the rule of law.

The lack of legislative control of the commercial security sector and their use of arms is certainly of great concern, as it is also the continuous presence of mob justice, which is born out of the perception that legal institutions are unable to tackle crime, and that the police is complacent and connives with the criminals. The lack of civic education on the justice system in Uganda has only exacerbated the already precarious situation between the Police and the Public.

The ratios of the Uganda Police Force still fall below the international standard of one out of every five hundred people (1/500). This remains a big challenge to both the Police and the public which they are supposed to protect and hence limit their prompt crime prevention and other attendant duties. Also, poor facilitation of the Police still remains a challenge. The Force is poorly paid, the conditions of housing and accommodation are extremely poor and yet the force is expected to work 24 hours with no motivation/incentive.

Both the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Deputy Inspector Of police (DIGP)