Kibuku, Uganda: In a dramatic show of patriotism and desperation for employment, thousands of youths on Friday thronged Kibuku District Police Station for the recruitment of special police constables (SPCs) ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The exercise, which is part of a nationwide police recruitment drive targeting 100,000 constables, saw over 1,000 applicants shortlisted on the spot, according to the District Police Commander (DPC), Superintendent of Police Dickens Turyatemba.
By 7:00 a.m., hundreds had already camped outside the station, many clutching their Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) certificates, national IDs, and letters of recommendation from LC1 chairpersons and Gombolola Internal Security Officers (GISOs).
The applicants, mostly young men aged between 18 and 30, were required to be residents and registered voters of the sub-counties where they applied. “The activity moved on well without any problem,” SP Turyatemba told DailyExpress. “Over one thousand were recruited and their data forwarded to police headquarters for further management. A list of successful candidates will soon be shared with the district.”
He commended the applicants for their discipline and transparency, noting that no forgeries or arrests were reported during the exercise. “I was surprised that everyone who came had a genuine P.7 result slip, and no fake documents were discovered. Only a few didn’t carry all their papers because this was their first job application,” he said.
Frustration Over NIRA Delays
However, not all left with smiles. Masiga Hassan, a 22-year-old resident of Nandere Sub-County, was disqualified after failing to present his national identity card, despite having a valid PLE result slip.
“I sat for P.7 and here is my result slip,” he lamented, showing his documents to DailyExpress. “But since August, I have been waiting for my national ID. NIRA has delayed, and now I’ve lost my only opportunity. I wish they could accept our application IDs instead.”
Masiga’s experience reflects a wider frustration shared by many rural youths, who accuse the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) of bureaucratic inefficiency and delays that cost them job and education opportunities.
Police Cautions Ahead of Museveni Visit
DPC Turyatemba used the event to commend Kibuku residents for maintaining peace and discipline, urging them to continue cooperating with security agencies ahead of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s scheduled campaign visit to Kibuku District on Thursday, November 13, 2025.
“Kibuku remains peaceful and law-abiding. We have not recorded serious crimes in recent months. I thank residents for respecting the law and urge them to maintain this calm environment during the campaign season,” he said.
The SPC recruitment comes as the Uganda Police Force ramps up nationwide preparations to ensure election security. The temporary constables will undergo a month-long paramilitary training covering crowd control, election monitoring, and civil order management, before being deployed in January 2026 for presidential and parliamentary polls.
Each SPC will reportedly receive a monthly stipend of UGX 469,000 for three months, according to police headquarters communication.
Police insiders say the move is aimed at bolstering manpower in polling stations across the country, especially in rural districts like Kibuku, Pallisa, Budaka, and Butebo, where staffing gaps and electoral tensions are anticipated.
“The goal is to maintain peace before, during, and after the elections,” a senior police source told DailyExpress. “These recruits will work alongside regular officers and intelligence units to ensure no disruptions occur.”
Beyond its security implications, the exercise has exposed Uganda’s deep youth unemployment crisis, with many applicants describing the SPC opportunity as their first and only shot at formal income.
For Kibuku’s restless youth, the recruitment symbolizes both hope and hardship, a reminder that the struggle for jobs remains steep even as the election clock ticks louder.
“Even if the pay is small, I just need something to do,” said one applicant, who requested anonymity. “I’m tired of sitting home without work.”
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
