On Wednesday, during the nomination of candidates for the Kawempe North by-election, a heavy security presence was observed. Among the deployed forces, a rarely seen outfit, the Joint Anti-Terrorist Task Force (JATTF), stood out.
At first glance, JATTF officers resemble members of the Police’s Anti-Terrorism Unit, also known as the Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU). Both groups wear nearly identical uniforms and share a focus on combating terrorism threats.
However, despite their similarities, the JATTF is a distinct entity with a different mandate and oversight.
The Joint Anti-Terrorist Task Force was established under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002 to combat threats posed by terrorist groups, primarily the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in northern Uganda.
Unlike the police-run CTU, the JATTF operates under the supervision of the Internal Security Organization (ISO) and the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).
The JATTF is composed of personnel from multiple security agencies, including the Uganda Police Force, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), and the Special Forces Command (SFC).
JATTF officers undergo specialized training and are equipped for both overt (open) and covert (secret) operations. Their uniforms and gear vary based on the nature of the mission.
The JATTF has faced both local and international scrutiny, with allegations of torture and illegal detention of suspects. However, the Ugandan government has consistently denied these claims.
