Gen Muhoozi orders police officers to wear name tags, badge numbers

What the report says

Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has ordered all Uganda Police officers to wear visible name tags and identification numbers on their uniforms, according to Nile Post. The directive, posted on X, is aimed at improving accountability and transparency within the force. Muhoozi said names should appear on the right chest pocket, while badge and number identifiers should be displayed on the left chest pocket.

The order comes with a stated expectation that members of the public can ask officers for their identities during arrests. Nile Post reported that Muhoozi also said citizens have the right to request an arresting officer’s name and badge number. The article linked the move to broader concerns about police accountability, including arrests, searches, detention, and complaints about misconduct.

Minister of State for ICT and National Guidance Balaam Barugahara publicly welcomed the directive, describing it as a positive step for transparency. Nile Post noted that visible officer identification is used in other jurisdictions as a way to make complaints easier to file and to help authorities trace conduct during police encounters. The article said the practical effect in Uganda will depend on how the directive is officially communicated, enforced, and integrated into uniform rules.