- 05 February 2026
Since 2023, the EU-UN Global Terrorism Threats Facility has been supporting Uganda in strengthening national coordination and enhancing its capacity to investigate and prosecute terrorism-related cases. This support aims to ensure Uganda’s counter-terrorism efforts are effective and grounded in international law, including international human rights law.
The Facility’s assistance has been delivered through three successive support packages, designed and implemented in close collaboration with the Uganda Police Force (UPF) Directorates for Counter-Terrorism, Criminal Investigations, and Forensics, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Strengthening Police–Prosecutor Coordination to Deliver Better Counter-Terrorism Outcomes
One of the most significant achievements of the Facility’s support has been to help transform the working relationship between the UPF and the ODPP towards a genuine culture of collaboration.
Investigators and prosecutors now work more closely through joint assessments, practical tools, and routine engagement. Regular coordination meetings have become part of the national counter terrorism practice, and a shared case file checklist has streamlined how terrorism cases are prepared, reducing delays and improving the quality of files submitted for prosecution.
These changes are already producing results. Beneficiaries report an increase in counter-terrorism investigations progressing to prosecutions and pleas, driven by stronger communication and more coherent case-building. As one prosecutor put it:
“The Facility has created a bond. Today, if I need something, I can simply call my counterpart directly. This will help us handle CT work more effectively.”
Human rights considerations have been at the heart of this process. The support provided through the Facility encompassed dedicated workshops on human rights and gender, helping practitioners integrate these principles into day to day CT operations. Several participants describe this as nothing short of “a mindset shift.”
Building Uganda’s First Joint Counter-Terrorism Course for Investigators and Prosecutors
A major milestone in Uganda’s journey toward a nationally-led CT response is the development of its first Joint Counter Terrorism Course, designed and delivered by Ugandan experts themselves.
Throughout 2024, a series of Training of Trainers (TOT) sessions brought together 28 investigators and prosecutors. Working side by side, they developed new skills not only to deliver training, but also to shape Uganda’s future efforts in counter-terrorism. By the end of the process, more than 82% of participants reported increased confidence, and satisfaction with the Facility’s support reached 4.86 out of 5, well above expectations.
This joint course goes beyond knowledge transfer. It helps create a shared strategic understanding among institutions that must work in sync to counter terrorism effectively. Human rights and gender perspectives were woven throughout the curriculum, including realistic tabletop exercises, ensuring that Uganda’s counter-terrorism response aligns with international standards. The Facility is now accompanying national counterparts as they finalize the course ahead of its first delivery in mid 2026, a major step toward sustainable, nationally owned counter-terrorism capacity.
Launching a New Intelligence Analysis Unit to Strengthen Intelligence Led Counter-Terrorism Operations
To support a more strategic and intelligence led approach to counter terrorism, the Facility has helped the UPF Counter Terrorism Directorate establish a new Intelligence Analysis Unit, expected to become a cornerstone for counter-terrorism operations.
Support includes specialized mentoring on analytical methods, hands on guidance, and essential equipment such as laptops, servers, printers, and perpetual i2 licenses. This investment will aim to enable the Unit to reach its initial operational capacity and begin generating the evidence based insights needed for more effective operations.
The creation of the UPF “CT Resource Center,” inaugurated in March 2025, further strengthens these efforts. Stocked with a large number of publications, including UN reference documents covering counter-terrorism and human rights, the center now serves as a hub for learning and professional development across the Directorate.
Together, these initiatives mark a turning point. Uganda is developing the systems and structures needed to sustain a professional, intelligence led counter terrorism capability for years to come. As Uganda moves forward, the impact of these support packages is clear: stronger coordination, enhanced operational capabilities, and a criminal investigations and prosecutions chain that upholds the rule of law, while effectively countering terrorism.
Quote Assistant Inspector-General of Police David Wasswa Ssengendo and Director of Counter-Terrorism,
“We are very proud, and we are going to make sure that the capability we are getting contributes to the delivery of justice globally.”