Private investigator licensing in Uganda
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Uganda.
Uganda licenses investigation firms as private security organisations: the 2013 Regulations define these as organisations that "undertake private investigations as to facts or as to the character of a person", and none may operate without an operator's licence from the Inspector General of Police. Investigations are a separate licence category (Category B), and the licence is issued to a registered company on production of its memorandum and articles. Firms must report each investigation to the District CID officer or Unit Police Commander, and the police must clear the final report before it goes to the client.1
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Insurance required
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How to get licensed1
- 1
Incorporate a company (foreign investors: complete Uganda Investment Authority formalities first)
- 2
Submit the Schedule I application in triplicate to the Inspector General of Police through the District Police Commander and the National Licensing Committee chair
- 3
Produce certified memorandum and articles of association and pay the category fee
- 4
Register each private security officer with the IGP before employment and submit fingerprints of operational staff within two weeks
- 5
Renew the operator's licence each January
Licensed somewhere else?
See whether you can take a case in Uganda.
How to qualify
- Who holds the licence
- The agency (staff are registered under it)1
- Bond or insurance
- Firms must take out appropriate insurance cover for their employees1
- Citizenship
- Private security officers must be Ugandan citizens; employing a non-citizen in any other role needs IGP permission; foreign investors must first complete Uganda Investment Authority formalities1
- Fees
- Annual operator's licence (Schedule III, 2013): Investigations UGX 150,000; combined Guard, Escort and Investigations UGX 500,0001Fees change often: check the regulator's current schedule before you pay.
- Renewal
- Operator's licence renewed annually from 1 January, subject to satisfactory performance in the previous year; officer registration certificates expire on 31 December each year1
- Firearms
- Firms may hold or lease IGP-approved firearms only with ministerial authority, and only staff holding an IGP certificate of competence may use them1
Rules in the field
GPS trackers
Security equipment needs IGP approval, and equipment used to interfere with the lawful privacy of an individual will not be licensed or approved (reg. 12)1
Sources
Reference information, not legal advice. Confirm with the regulator before taking on work. Out of date? Tell us.
Questions about PI licensing in Uganda
Do you need a licence to be a private investigator in Uganda?+
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Uganda. Uganda licenses investigation firms as private security organisations: the 2013 Regulations define these as organisations that "undertake private investigations as to facts or as to the character of a person", and none may operate without an operator's licence from the Inspector General of Police. Investigations are a separate licence category (Category B), and the licence is issued to a registered company on production of its memorandum and articles. Firms must report each investigation to the District CID officer or Unit Police Commander, and the police must clear the final report before it goes to the client.
Who licenses private investigators in Uganda?+
Inspector General of Police, Uganda Police Force (National Registration and Licensing Committee), under Police (Control of Private Security Organisations) Regulations, 2013 (S.I. No. 11 of 2013), made under the Police Act.
Do private investigators in Uganda need a bond or insurance?+
Firms must take out appropriate insurance cover for their employees
How often does a Uganda PI licence need renewing?+
Operator's licence renewed annually from 1 January, subject to satisfactory performance in the previous year; officer registration certificates expire on 31 December each year
How much does a private investigator licence cost in Uganda?+
Annual operator's licence (Schedule III, 2013): Investigations UGX 150,000; combined Guard, Escort and Investigations UGX 500,000
How do you get a private investigator licence in Uganda?+
1. Incorporate a company (foreign investors: complete Uganda Investment Authority formalities first) 2. Submit the Schedule I application in triplicate to the Inspector General of Police through the District Police Commander and the National Licensing Committee chair 3. Produce certified memorandum and articles of association and pay the category fee 4. Register each private security officer with the IGP before employment and submit fingerprints of operational staff within two weeks 5. Renew the operator's licence each January
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