Parliament is set to debate a new Bill that could significantly reshape leadership in the National Police Service by capping the age of top officers and introducing fixed terms for deputies.
The National Police Service (Amendment) Bill, 2025, tabled in the National Assembly by Teso North MP Oku Kaunya, proposes setting 60 years as the maximum age for appointment to the positions of Inspector-General (IG) and Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs). It also seeks to introduce a single, non-renewable five-year term for the deputies.
Currently, the law does not impose a retirement age for senior police leadership, leaving the top ranks out of step with other public service positions, where officers must retire at 60.
Kaunya says the loophole has created uncertainty and undermined succession planning within the police service.
“This amendment ensures that those taking up these demanding roles are not only experienced but also capable of effectively handling the responsibilities,” Kaunya noted in his memorandum.
If enacted, the changes would align the police leadership with broader civil service rules while addressing the current exemption enjoyed by deputy inspectors-general.
Senior officers older than 60 would no longer be eligible for appointment, directly affecting both current and future officeholders, including the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The Bill further proposes:
- Amendment of Section 11 of the Police Service Act to introduce new provisions on qualifications and disqualifications.
- Creation of Sections 11A and 11B, which spell out terms of service for deputy inspectors-general.
- Deletion of Section 13, transferring appointment provisions for DIGs to the new clauses.
- Alignment of Section 20 with the revised framework.
The proposed law is now before the National Assembly’s Committee on Administration and Internal Security for scrutiny.
If passed, it would standardise leadership tenure in the service and bring clarity to succession, a matter that has sparked debate in recent years over leadership stability and reform in the security sector.
