The Minister of State for ICT and National Guidance, Kabbyanga Godfrey Baluku, has reaffirmed the neutrality and constitutional mandate of Uganda’s security agencies, emphasising that their work remains professional and non-partisan.
Speaking during Sanyuka Morning Xpress on Thursday Kabbyanga addressed recent public debate surrounding the conduct of security personnel during political activities, particularly those involving opposition leaders during their ongoing presidential campaigns across the country.
He noted that the police play a critical role in ensuring the safety of all presidential candidates despite often being portrayed negatively in tense situations.
“The police are there to protect Kyagulanyi, but when a scuffle breaks out, they’re often portrayed as the bad ones. Yet these agencies aren’t partisan they’re simply doing their job,” Kabbyanga said.
The Minister further cautioned against politicising security operations, suggesting that critics would better appreciate the role of security services if protection were suddenly withdrawn.
“If the police withdrew security from all candidates, you’d see how quickly they’d turn against one another,” he said.
Kabbyanga also defended the professionalism and civic duty of security officers, reminding the public that police personnel are citizens who exercise political rights only in the voting booth.
“The police are human too; they also vote. The only day they can be called partisan is the day they cast their vote.”
He added that criticism directed at civil servants is often rooted in misconceptions about their loyalty and professional responsibilities.
“The opposition often assumes that everyone works for the government but that’s not true. Some people are simply doing their jobs professionally, regardless of politics,” he said.
The Minister called for constructive engagement among political actors and encouraged Ugandans to recognize the important role of security institutions in safeguarding democratic processes and national stability.
