By Serina Nagujja
They are trained to stay calm when everyone else flees. They respond to violent protests, armed attacks, fatal traffic accidents, domestic disputes, and crime scenes. They stand guard during high-tension events and step into danger as others run for safety.
But when the uniform comes off, what happens to the person beneath?
For Uganda police officers, soldiers, and prison wardens, the psychological cost of service is rarely discussed. Behind the authority of the badge, many carry traumatic memories of violence, injury, and lost colleagues, invisible wounds that standard medical care cannot heal.
The Uganda Police Force, the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF), and the Uganda Prisons Service recruit men and women to protect lives and maintain order. Yet these same officers often face open hostility from the public, especially during elections, protests, and political standoffs.
While public concern over excessive force and human rights violations remains valid, a critical question is often overlooked: What does constant exposure to violence do to the minds of those tasked with keeping the peace?
Voices from the Frontline
“I was nearby when Arirong was killed,” says SP Innocent Mubangizi, the District Police Commander for Katwe. “I turned around after hearing a disturbing sound and saw blood everywhere. I have never forgotten that experience.”
Security workplaces place officers in unpredictable, life-threatening environments. During riots and crime operations, they face stone-throwing crowds, physical assaults, and sometimes fatal attacks.
“The pain felt by a civilian is the exact same pain a police officer feels,” explains ACP Rusoke Kituuma, the Police Spokesperson.
Beyond physical danger, constant public disrespect takes a quiet toll on officer morale.
“When taxi drivers ask in a mockingly dismissive tone, Obusajja buli wa?’ [Where are the men?], that alone can be deeply demoralizing,” says SP Michael Kananura, Traffic Police Spokesperson. “The man you are calling akasajja [a little man] is a father of twins. He has a family depending on him.”
Uganda does not publish comprehensive annual statistics on public attacks against security personnel. However, official records tell a grim story:
April 2025: Police Constable Suleiman Chemonges was killed by a mob while guarding a funeral in Ibanda District.
May 2025: Police Constable John Bosco Naturinda was killed after an arrest in Oyam District escalated into mob violence.
Kween District: Officers accompanied by an army officer traveled to Bukwo to make an arrest. The suspect attacked them with stones and a panga, striking an officer before being stopped.
“Even when violence is committed against security agencies, the public always blames the officers,” says SCP Frank Baine Mayanja, the Prisons Spokesperson.
DPC Mubangizi adds that officers often feel isolated from the communities they serve. “We are often the most hated people. I rarely see anyone appreciate our work, yet we help at least 60 out of every 100 people who need us. The people we help stay silent, and we are left asking ourselves what we did wrong.”
The Media and Unseen Pressures
SCP Baine notes that public perception is often shaped by incomplete stories.
“Even in war, news reports focus on civilian casualties while ignoring fallen soldiers,” Baine says. “The media often focuses on the violent outcome of an incident without showing what triggered it.”
He explains that while poor command or bad communication can cause a situation to escalate, systemic pressure also plays a major role. Long working hours, low pay, lack of rest, and personal family problems all wear down an officer’s emotional strength.
While these pressures do not justify police brutality, they show that officers are human beings operating under immense stress without enough support.
The Mental Health Toll
Repeated exposure to trauma increases the risk of serious psychological conditions, including anxiety, depression, burnout, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze, Director of Public Health, points out that these mental health struggles are often invisible. An officer may continue going to work every day while secretly battling severe trauma, nightmares, and emotional exhaustion.
Seeking help remains a challenge. Strong social stigma, fear of judgment, and the military culture of toughing it out prevent many from speaking up.
“Mental health is a human rights issue that affects civilians and officers alike,” says Crispin Kaheru of the Uganda Human Rights Commission. “Human rights are universal. If we speak out when civilians are harmed but stay silent when officers are abused, we build a selective culture of rights. Everyone must condemn violence, regardless of who the victim is.”
Finding a Way Forward
The Uganda Police Force, UPDF, and Uganda Prisons Service have introduced counseling and peer-support programs to assist traumatized personnel. However, getting officers to actually use these services remains a hurdle due to fear of career backlash.
Addressing officer trauma does not mean ignoring civilian abuse. Both problems must be tackled together: violence against civilians is wrong, violence against officers is wrong, and caring for an officer’s mental health should go hand-in-hand with professional accountability.
