Iran to Equip, Train Ugandan Police

A team of 13 Iranian officers, led by the deputy inspector general of police, Brig. Gen. Ali Reza Jazini Dorcheh, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ugandan Police chief, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, on Saturday. “Iranians have been our friends for long. They will support us with training and technical advice, as well as acquisition of weapons.”

The internal affairs minister, Ruhakana Rugunda, said, “Our brothers from Iran have faced many challenges but have been able to transform to a first-class country.

“They manufacture very good weapons, yet we buy those very gadgets very expensively from the West. It is high time that the Ugandan Police looked at their (Iran) products and skills because we shall soon benefit from their expertise.”

He added that during a meeting with the delegation at State House, President Yoweri Museveni echoed similar sentiments.

Meanwhile, 60 Police officers on Friday completed a three-month course in operations command and bomb detection and detonation.

The course was aimed at boosting security during the Commonwealth summit (CHOGM) in November.

Kayihura commended the South African police for training the Ugandan force.

“This training will also boost our intelligence and the VIP handling section during CHOGM,” said Kayihura.

The Police have stepped up training ahead of the CHOGM.

Recently, over 1,000 Special Police Constables were passed out to specifically deal with counter-terrorism and petty crime.

The British, South African and North Korean police are also training the Ugandan force ahead of CHOGM.