Police officers nationwide have commenced sports physicals following orders from Abbas Byakagaba, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), as part of efforts to enhance their physical fitness in preparation for the 2026 general elections.
To this end, Byakagaba has launched an “IGP Tournament,” focusing on football and netball, involving police officers from all districts of Uganda. Speaking at the launch of the Kigezi region session at Kabale Municipal Stadium in Kabale District on Saturday, Hajji Ibrahim Saiga, Kigezi Region Police Commander, highlighted the initiative’s objective.
He noted, “The police have a significant task ahead of managing elections, and the IGP has identified that physical fitness is a crucial element officers across the country are lacking.” Elly Maate, Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson, remarked that this is the first IGP Tournament since the establishment of the Uganda Police Force.
Sheikh Kassim Kamugisha, the Wakiso Deputy Resident District Commissioner, who officiated the tournament’s kickoff in the Kigezi region, commended the initiative, emphasizing its importance. “Such an initiative should have started like yesterday because a lack of fitness is also a threat to health,” Kamugisha stated.
