A new legislative proposal—the National Police Service (Amendment) Bill, 2025—seeks to introduce a fixed retirement age of 60 years for the two highest-ranking positions in the National Police Service (NPS): the Inspector-General (IG) and Deputy Inspector-General (DIG).
The amendment aims to close a legal gap in the current framework, which does not impose a mandatory retirement age for these senior roles.
“The Bill’s main purpose is to amend the NPS Act to ensure that persons appointed to serve as IG and DIG do not exceed the age of 60 at the time of appointment.”
The Bill is sponsored by Teso North MP Oku Kaunya and has been tabled before the National Assembly’s Committee on Administration and Internal Security. It directly impacts current and future incumbents of the positions of IG, DIG, and Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI). Committee members, including Vice Chair Dado Rasso, have also participated actively in vetting the proposal.
Currently, the NPS Act lacks an upper age limit for its senior leaders, creating inconsistencies with other public-service roles, where retirement is pegged at 60 years. MP Kaunya argues that this loophole has resulted in uncertainty and undermined effective succession planning.
He contended: “This law will help us eliminate lacuna and make sure we have capable officers at the top at all times. I request that the committee consider passing this bill so that we can be able to improve our NPS management and command at the top level.”
Committee Vice Chair Dado Rasso also pointed out concerns over internal promotion practices: “One of the challenges… is the idea of officers overtaking each other where a junior person suddenly becomes the boss of a much older, experienced and well‑trained officer; this must be captured in the Bill.”
If enacted, the amendment would require that all future appointments to these senior roles factor in the age of candidates to ensure they have a full two-year period to serve before mandatory retirement. This means individuals aged 58 and above would not qualify for appointment.
The change would also bar officers from serving beyond 60, regardless of whether their term is complete. For instance, if a Deputy Inspector-General is appointed at age 59, they would be required to exit office after one year. This clause effectively tightens the terms of service and introduces clear age-based eligibility.
Kaunya emphasised that the reform would align police top brass with Public Service Commission norms, where the retirement age is generally 60 (or 65 for persons with disabilities).
“Security work is demanding and requires someone fit. While experience is valuable, we must not leave this gap unaddressed. This proposal helps close that loophole and ensures a capable and agile police leadership.”
He further noted that beyond age restrictions, the Bill could act as a catalyst for addressing broader structural issues—such as career progression fairness, promotion protocols, and leadership readiness strategies.
The proposed amendment comes at a time when public debate has intensified around leadership succession and generational change in key state institutions, especially in security. The move is seen as part of broader reforms aimed at institutional renewal, orderly transition, and strategic talent planning within the police service.
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