The government of Uganda has directed all private security guards in the country to register with the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA), failure to which they will personally be held liable.
In a notice dated November 2, 2023, Fazul Mahamed, the Director General of the Private Security Regulatory Authority, states that all private security providers or officers must obtain a Guard Force Number (GFN) after undergoing training in security matters from an institution accredited by the authority.
This comes as the government embarks on a nationwide registration, licensing, and issuance of Guard Force Numbers (GFN) for all private security officers in the country in a bid to create a centralised database encompassing the entire private security workforce.
According to the notice, any person who operates as a private security service provider without being the holder of a valid training certificate from an institution accredited by the Authority will have committed an offence and shall be liable to a fine, imprisonment or both. On the other hand, a company that employs a private security guard who is not licensed shall be liable to a fine of Ksh.2 million.
“The Authority has commenced nationwide registration, licensing, and issuance of Guard Force Numbers (GFN) to individual private security service providers who include but are not limited to; private security guards, corporate security officers, and all persons providing private security services, either employed or otherwise engaged by Government institutions, agencies or bodies; and/or by any individual” reads the notice in part.
It further adds: “The Guard Force Number (GFN) is the only proof that a Private Security Officer has been duly registered and licensed by the Authority in accordance with the provisions of the Act.”
At the same time, the Private Security Regulatory Authority has directed that all licensed private security officers be paid a minimum monthly gross salary of Ksh.30,000 with the net pay amounting to Ksh.26,415. The Ksh.30,000 gross pay includes a basic salary of Ksh.18,994.08, house allowance (Ksh.2,849.11) and overtime allowance (Ksh.8,156.81).
