Newly Promoted 515 FFU Officers Urged to Uphold Discipline

The newly promoted 515 Field Force Unit (FFU) police officers have been urged to maintain discipline in their operations. Commissioner of Police (CP) Herman Owomugisha, the Deputy FFU Commandant, emphasized that the men and women in blue camouflage have been recognized for their service through promotion and must now redouble their efforts.

“When you get promoted, it means your efforts and service have been recognized and appreciated. But it also means you must work harder and maintain discipline in your duties,” CP Owomugisha said. The 515 FFU personnel were recently promoted by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Abas Byakagaba, and were piped during a ceremony at the Naguru Police Headquarters.

The IGP, in consultation with directors—primarily from the Directorate of Crime Intelligence (DCI) and the Directorate of Human Resource Management (HRM), which monitor officers' service and conduct—is authorized to promote officers up to the ranks of Police Constable (PC), Corporal (CPL), Sergeant (SGT), Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP), and Inspector of Police (IP).

Promotions to senior ranks—Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and above—are made by President Yoweri Museveni following vetting by the Police Authority, which is chaired by the Minister of Internal Affairs. These ranks include ASP, Superintendent of Police (SP), Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Commissioner of Police (CP), Senior Commissioner of Police (SCP), and Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP).

CP Owomugisha, who presided over the ceremony on behalf of AIGP John Nuwagira, the FFU Director, congratulated the officers and reminded them of their new responsibilities as public order officers. “FFU plays a crucial role in maintaining public order and security, and it’s encouraging to see officers being recognized for their hard work and dedication,” he said. The FFU, also known as the Field Force Police (FFP), is often deployed at the frontlines in managing protests, particularly those organized by opposition politicians.