The Ministry of Internal Affairs has requested an additional Shs46 billion in the 2026/2027 financial year budget to enhance deployment at Uganda’s border points.
Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs, Dr. Stephen Okello, representing the Ministry on the NGO Bureau, revealed that the institution is facing a significant staffing gap. He noted that while the Ministry requires 1,286 personnel, only 702 positions are currently filled.
Okello further highlighted that out of the country’s 72 gazetted border points, only 53 are operational, leaving 19 unmanned and vulnerable to illegal activities such as human trafficking and undocumented migration.
The Ministry’s delegation, led by Internal Affairs Minister Kahinda Otafiire, told legislators that the additional funding would be directed toward recruitment, deployment, and strengthening surveillance at key entry points.
Lawmakers on the committee are expected to review the request as part of ongoing budget discussions, amid concerns over national security and the need to improve control at Uganda’s borders.
