The Uganda Private Security Association: Shaping the Future of Private Security in Uganda

ICoCA Observer since January 2025

Driving Professionalism, Collaboration and Regional Integration

The Uganda Private Security Association (TUPSA), founded in 1997, represents over 426 private security companies and more than 100,000 employees in Uganda. It plays an important role in enhancing professionalism, enforcing industry standards and strengthening regional cooperation through advocacy, training and regulatory support and lobbying.

Recognising the private security sector’s significant contribution to Uganda’s workforce and economic development, TUPSA’s mission is to uphold high-quality security services that protect life and property. It fosters strong relationships between security firms, law enforcement and unions, while championing private security as a vital complement to the Uganda Police Force.

Looking beyond Uganda, TUPSA aspires to create a more skilled and unified security sector across East Africa. It plans to become an associate member of the Southern Africa Security Officers Board and ultimately establish a similar organisation for East Africa. This forward-looking strategy reflects TUPSA’s dedication to improving regional cooperation and its role in shaping a more cohesive and skilled security landscape across the continent.

TUPSA’s Four Pillars of Progress

TUPSA drives transformative change in Uganda’s private security sector through four core initiatives:

1. Advocacy and Lobbying: TUPSA represents its member companies at national and international levels, engaging with policymakers to advance industry recognition and regulatory improvements. Through lobbying, it pushes for fair wages, improved working conditions and career growth opportunities for security personnel.
2. Training and Development: TUPSA prioritises specialised training in crime detection, anti-terrorism and other critical areas, equipping security personnel to handle evolving and complex security threats with confidence.
3. Setting Industry Standards: By establishing strict operational benchmarks, TUPSA ensures private security firms operate with professionalism and accountability. Compliance is enforced through monitoring mechanisms, ensuring consistent service quality.
4. Member Support: TUPSA provides strategic resources and guidance on regulatory compliance, operational efficiency and business development, helping security firms remain competitive and adaptive to evolving industry demands.

Strategic Alliances for Global Standards and Local Integration

TUPSA is committed to building strategic partnerships that elevate Uganda’s security sector both locally and globally. By collaborating closely with government agencies, international organisations such as ICoCA, and other key security bodies, TUPSA ensures that Uganda’s private security sector adheres to international human rights and legal standards. This also enables its members to stay at the forefront of industry advancements and learn from global security leaders.

As a new Observer of ICoCA, TUPSA gains access to a wealth of global best practices in human rights, regulatory compliance and ethical security operations. Chairman Grace Matsiko highlights the value of this collaboration:

“ICoCA can support TUPSA in several key ways to promote responsible security practices and sector development, thereby enhancing the association’s and its members’ credibility both locally and internationally.”

According to Mr. Matsiko, this partnership enables TUPSA to introduce industry-leading methodologies, refine industry guidelines, improve accountability and transparency measures across the sector and enhance training programmes. This was exemplified in November 2024, when TUPSA and ICoCA partnered to train over 70 leaders from private security companies across Uganda.

Beyond international collaboration, TUPSA is also deepening its engagement with public institutions, particularly the Uganda Police Force, to create a more integrated security framework. This includes joint crime prevention strategies, intelligence-sharing initiatives and coordinated response mechanisms to enhance national security. By fostering these public-private partnerships, TUPSA strengthens trust in private security firms, ensuring they are recognised as essential partners in maintaining law and order.

Solving Uganda’s Private Security Challenges: From Low Wages to Technological Adoption

Uganda’s private security sector faces key challenges, and TUPSA is at the forefront of addressing them. Low wages and poor working conditions are tackled through advocacy for fair pay, benefits and career progression. A lack of proper training is resolved through partnerships with institutions offering specialised courses in self-defence, conflict resolution and emergency response.

Regulatory compliance remains a hurdle, with TUPSA working to streamline licensing processes and ensure members meet legal requirements. To tackle corruption, collusion and unethical practices, it enforces strict recruitment policies, incentivises ethical behaviour and implements a whistle-blower system to drive transparency and accountability.

To drive industry growth, TUPSA negotiates fair policies with the government while tackling key challenges such as market competition, under-pricing and public trust in the sector. Some security firms prioritise cost-cutting over service quality, while others struggle to keep pace with advancements in security technologies. TUPSA addresses these issues by promoting high operational standards, encouraging the adoption of cutting-edge security solutions and fostering strong client relationships to enhance sector credibility and long-term sustainability.

While challenging, the adoption of new technology presents a major opportunity, and despite these obstacles, Uganda’s private security sector has significant growth potential. TUPSA urges companies to embrace innovations such as drones, smart security systems and cybersecurity solutions, while diversifying into risk assessment, crisis management and emergency response to move beyond traditional guarding.

Rising crime rates, infrastructure development and increased foreign investment are driving demand for high-quality security services. By fostering partnerships with businesses, real estate developers and government agencies to deliver integrated security solutions, TUPSA ensures the sector remains both competitive and indispensable.