By Ben Musanje
Uganda’s security forces have moved to play down concerns over strained relations with civilians, saying the 18th Inter-Forces Games and Shooting Championship will provide an opportunity to strengthen public confidence and address any gaps in civil-military relations.
The games, which bring together the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service and Uganda Wildlife Authority, will be held in Gulu City from August 22 to September 5, 2026, under the theme “Building Synergy Through Sports.”
Speaking at a joint press briefing at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Monday, Police spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke rejected the suggestion that Uganda’s security forces generally have a poor relationship with civilians.
He, however, acknowledged that isolated incidents of friction may occur.
“I distance myself from the opinion that the forces and the wanainchi are not in good relations,” Rusoke said, adding that the security agencies remain in regular contact with communities.
He said the games could nevertheless help address any existing “glitch” in relations between security personnel and the public.
According to Rusoke, the sporting event is not only about competition but also an opportunity for security agencies to strengthen their relationship with civilians and improve cooperation among themselves beyond their routine duties.
The emphasis on civil-military relations comes at a time when public interaction with security agencies can sometimes be marked by mistrust, particularly where citizens feel that security personnel have used excessive force or failed to adequately engage communities.
The UPDF’s Deputy Defence Public Information Officer, Col. Henry Obbo, said one of the objectives of the games is specifically to “promote civil-military relations to build community confidence and solidarity.”
The championship will feature football, netball, volleyball, handball, athletics, taekwondo, darts and range shooting, with both men’s and women’s events in selected disciplines.
Obbo said the games are also intended to improve physical fitness and discipline, strengthen cooperation among the security agencies, identify sporting talent, promote health and reduce stress among personnel.
The opening ceremony will be held on August 24 at St. Joseph’s College Layibi in Gulu City, with the closing ceremony scheduled for September 4 at the same venue.
Sports as a bridge
Uganda Prisons Service spokesperson Frank Baine Mayanja said the competitions also provide a platform for personnel to develop sporting careers.
He described the service’s competitions as open to the public and said the events are intended to provide a foundation for athletes seeking to compete at higher levels.
The UPDF Sports Directorate, however, wants the security agencies to take sporting talent more seriously.
Lieutenant Colonel John Andrew Kulu, head of the UPDF Sports Directorate, said the forces need to deliberately invest in sports rather than treating the games simply as recreational activities.
Kulu said the Inter-Forces championships have produced a number of athletes who later competed at national and international levels, but opportunities to identify and develop such talent remain limited.
He explained that many officers participate in the games before returning to their primary military duties, making it difficult to nurture exceptional athletes into full-time competitors.
No permanent champion
Uganda Wildlife Authority Head of Communication and Public Relations Bashir Hangi said the competition has no permanently dominant force, with different agencies taking the championship at different editions.
He noted that host teams have often performed strongly, adding an element of unpredictability to this year’s competition in Gulu.
The 18th edition follows the 17th Inter-Forces Games, which were hosted by the Uganda Police Force in November 2023. Under the hosting rotation, the UPDF is hosting this year’s championship.
Beyond determining which security agency emerges as the sporting champion, organizers say the event is intended to create another point of contact between security institutions and the communities they serve.
For the forces, the challenge will be to ensure that the message of partnership promoted on the sports field translates into stronger and more trusting relations with civilians long after the medals have been awarded.
