Bill proposes 60-year age limit, fixed terms for top police officers
If enacted, the Bill will standardise leadership tenure in the National Police Service, set clear upper creating inconsistencies with other public-service roles, where retirement is pegged at 60 years.
A new Bill before the National Assembly, the National Police Service (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to amend the National Police Service Act, Cap. 84, to set an age limit of 60 years for the appointment of the Inspector-General and Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, and to introduce a single five-year term for the deputies.
The amendment aims to close a legal gap in the current framework, which does not impose a mandatory retirement age for these senior roles.
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According to the Bill, the proposed changes are aimed at ensuring that persons appointed to the top leadership of the National Police Service are capable of handling the demanding responsibilities of the offices.
The Bill also seeks to balance the need to retain experienced leadership with the need to allow for succession planning within the Service.
Notably, the Bill addresses the current exemption of Deputy Inspectors-General from the mandatory retirement age, meaning senior officers who are above 60 years may now be ineligible for appointment.
Clause 2 proposes the amendment of section 11 of the National Police Service Act to align it with the insertion of a new section 11A. Clause 3 provides for the qualifications and disqualifications for appointment as Inspector-General, explicitly disqualifying anyone who has attained the age of 60 years at the time of appointment.
Clause 4 introduces new sections 11A and 11B, which provide for the appointment of Deputy Inspectors-General, establish a single five-year term limit, and outline qualifications and disqualifications, including the 60-year age restriction.
Clause 5 seeks the deletion of section 13, which previously addressed the appointment of Deputy Inspectors-General, transferring these provisions to the new section 11A. Clause 6 amends section 20 to align with the newly inserted section 11A.
Clause 6 proposes the amendment of section 20 of the Act to align it with the newly inserted section 11A.
The Bill is sponsored by Teso North MP Oku Kaunya and has been tabled before the National Assembly’s Committee on Administration and Internal Security. It directly affects current and future incumbents of the positions of Inspector-General, Deputy Inspector-General, and Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Currently, the National Police Service Act does not have an upper age limit for its senior leaders,
If enacted, the Bill will standardise leadership tenure in the National Police Service, set clear upper creating inconsistencies with other public-service roles, where retirement is pegged at 60 years.
MP Kaunya argues that this loophole has resulted in uncertainty and undermined effective succession planning.
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