Over two decades ago, the sight of private security guards was a complete rarity.
But as the economy boomed and the private sector expanded rapidly in early 1990s, many Ugandans saw the need for investing in the protection of their private property.

The result has been a booming industry in private security services, many employing former soldiers to protect business premises in the city and residences in affluent neighbourhoods.

But even as the industry is booming, none of the firms has ever reached the list of the top tax payers. The recent release from Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) does not feature any of them.

Industry regulation
Private security firms are regulated by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) under the section 73 of the Police Act no. 13 of 1994. The act gave the ministry of Internal Affairs the mandate to regulate the industry.

The Act authorises the firms to use firearms, which are approved by the IGP. Security firms pay an annual licence fee of Shs200,000 for their operations. The IGP issues licences to the organisations to operate a specific security business of a private or a commercial nature. Statistics from police indicate that since inception, the current total numbers of registered firms in operation are 61.

Initially the number was 71 before the IGP last week banned 10 firms from operation. The 61 firms employ a work force of 21,100 guards more than the entire Police force.
Police records also show that the recent closure of 10 firms affected the work force by 2,011 guards.

Asked whether the growing number of guards was a threat to the police force, the deputy head of the Private Security and Firearms Department in the Police, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Boniface Ebiu said on Friday: “No. So long as the regulations are being followed, there is no worry”.

“The growth of the industry responds to demand and it is regulated in accordance with the circumstances on the ground. Those ones who turn their guns or err in services will be terminated,” he said.

He also allayed fears that the recent closure of 10 firms would affect the force saying most of the guards joined other companies. “Economic activities created resources and people must protect them. The police can not be everywhere and even before the act came into place, security guards were there,” Mr Ebiu said.

Most security firms carry guns and the growing number of armed people raises concerns about training and supervision. Uganda is currently the only country in the East African region where private security guards are armed.
Like the police force, their mandate is supposed to be preserving law and order, protect life and property, and to prevent and detect crime.

But arming the guards seems not to have had any impact on curbing crime in the country. Cases of guards turning their guns on their family members have become common. In a suicidal rage, a private security guard attached to Alert Guards shot and killed his two children and himself recently.

Since the year started, 15 security companies have been closed. According to police records, the number of private security guards committing crimes is increasing.

Crime statistics
Police statistics show that private security guards committed a total of 468 crimes in 2005 and 2006. 290 crimes were committed in 2005 while 178 were committed in 2006. The number is expected to go up this year. The majority of the crimes were theft and robberies, while the rest were more serious crimes, such as assault and murder. In some cases, over 20 guards were arrested, while some get away with it.

In addition to causing huge losses to businesses and banks, the involvement in crime by private security guards creates a general feeling of insecurity and affects investors’ confidence Banks and businesses in particular have been targeted. Most managers do not want to speak on record about the crimes for fear of negative publicity.

However, most of them who talked on condition of anonymity contend that in-house theft, involving staff and security guards, is rising at alarming rates.
“It is a deeply disturbing thought. The very people you hire to protect you and your property end up conniving with thieves and murderers, or turning their guns against you,” a manager who did not want to be named said.

Sources within the Police blame the clients for not wanting to pay a lot for a private security guard and going for the cheaper, less reliable firms. It is the prime responsibility of the government to ensure that only reliable firms are on the market.

Competition
Others blame stiff competition among security firms, low salaries and the fact that some firms put profits above staff welfare or quality of services. There are also cases where some guards were reportedly given guns after having received one week of training.
Early this year, the Police deregistered and closed five security firms for not meeting the basic requirements. It was the first step in trying to regulate one of the most booming and controversial industries. But it might not be enough.

Institutions that hire the guards contend that stricter supervision is needed on screening and training of private security guards. Tighter regulations might also be needed on pay structures, the number of security firms allowed and the use of guns.

This has raised the more fundamental question whether private security guards should be allowed to carry guns. a consensus on that might be hard to thrush out.
The Ugandan public is also wary of the potential risk of allowing a “private army” of over 20,000 men onto the streets.

There is also a danger that the highly competitive industry might create or maintain a sense of insecurity, in order to create business for them, even when some of it is caused by its own employees.

According to Kampala Extra Police spokesman Simeo Nsubuga, many private security guards connive with employees at the places where they are deployed.
“After committing a robbery or murder, the guards usually abandon their guns and disappear,” Mr Nsubuga said.

He cited the robbery at a Total fuel station, belonging to FDC leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, in which goods worth millions of shillings were stolen early this year. He also referred to a robbery at Karibuni Forex Bureau and another one at Petro Fuel Station in Bugolobi.
Some guards hire out their guns to criminals, who then embark on robbing sprees.

Addressing the press at the Police headquarters earlier this month, Ahmed Wafuba, the head of the Private Security and Firearms Department in the Police, said his department was cracking down on firms that did not meet the basic requirements.

Superior Guards, based in Old Kampala, and Maxima Security Group, formerly Car Tracks, with its headquarters in Katwe, were deregistered in July and August respectively. Swilla Security Group, Security Eagle Eye Nature, and Axis Security Systems were also closed recently.

The security industry is afflicted by several problems, ranging from the flouting of recruitment procedures, inadequate training and low pay to poor welfare, according to Mr Wafuba.

“One firm we closed earlier Complete Security was giving its recruits only one week of training,” he said.

According to Mr Wafuba, some security guards earn as little as Shs65, 000 a month. The paltry pay is often subjected to arbitrary deductions, for uniforms or as a punishment for late-coming.

“In the absence of a minimum wage bill, we can only encourage them to pay as best as they can,” Mr Wafuba said.

He expressed concern that some firms were not investing the profits back into the company, thus putting money above security concerns.
He also blamed the price war among security companies which results in undercutting, and impacts on the firm’s ability to offer proper training and remuneration.

Kampala Parking Industry (KPI) security services Ltd’s operations manger Mr Jassy Jackson Kabazaare says that one of the challenges the firms face is delayed payment from their clients. Kabazaare, however, said the delay was not the reason why guards are poorly paid and not paid in time.

“Ours we pay promptly. Even as we talk now, they are about to be paid,” Mr Kabazaare said.

“But that should not mean that paying guards is the only priority we have, we have other issue like rent and bills”.
But cross sections of guards employed by the private security firms tell the same story. Poor and delayed pay.

“These people have really exploited us. We work long hours, but the salary is poor. How can you work for one month and at the end of it you walk home with only Shs60,000,” one of the guards who did not want to be named for fear of his job said.

“Even the little salary does not come in time. Sometimes we get paid after three months and when the money comes, they don’t give you all” another guard said.

Mr Wafuba, however, defends the use of firearms. “Initially, it was the Police guarding banks and industries and they used to be armed. The guards need something to further their protection, otherwise robbers would simply walk in,” he said.

Asked how clients should protect themselves against their security guards, Mr Nsubuga said: “People who want to have private security guards should always consult the area division Police commander because they have information about them.”