Sam Omara, the retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, has passed away at the age of 65.
The Uganda Police Force confirmed his death this morning but did not disclose the specific cause of death. Instead, they noted his longstanding service and dedication to the force.
In a statement, Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke praised Omara as a “gallant and dedicated officer” who served with distinction and retired honorably.
During his tenure in the police, Omara held various key positions, including as Kampala North Police Operations Commander. His leadership during the 2011 “walk-to-work” protests, where he oversaw police operations, remains a point of debate, with critics accusing him of heavy-handed tactics.
Always ready for the cameras, Omara often wore a smirk that many saw as a taunt to the opposition , a look that would haunt his public image for years. While some inside government hailed him as a no-nonsense enforcer, on the streets he was widely seen as a brutal symbol of state repression.
In a rare twist before his death, Omara swallowed his pride and apologized to Ugandans, admitting that “excesses” had happened under his watch.
After hanging up his boots in 2020, he flirted with politics before finding a second life in private security.
After retiring from the Uganda Police Force, Omara transitioned to the private security sector, serving as Deputy CEO of Arrow Security Services, a company owned by Capt. Mike Mukula.
Omara’s declining health, attributed to prostate cancer and kidney failure, led to financial support from both Mukula and President Museveni to cover his medical bills.
