Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Sam Omara has died at the age of 64, his son, Sam Omara Jr., has confirmed.
Omara, who had been battling prostate cancer and kidney failure, succumbed to his illnesses after a prolonged period of poor health.
His death comes just days after police refuted earlier reports about his passing, stating he was still critically ill.
Omara rose to national prominence in 2011 as the Field Force Unit commander during the Walk to Work protests, a wave of demonstrations led by opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye.
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He became a symbol of the police’s controversial “preventive arrest” strategy, which sought to restrict the movements of opposition figures.
For months, Omara’s unit was stationed outside Besigye’s Kasangati residence, with reports of officers using nearby farms as makeshift latrines sparking public outrage.
Omara, who often appeared in the media with a mocking smirk, seemed to relish the attention from cameras.
While he was praised by some in government for his tough approach, many Ugandans accused him of using excessive force.
In his later years, Omara publicly apologized for the violence and abuses linked to his leadership during that era, expressing regret for the misconduct that occurred under his watch.
Following his retirement from the Uganda Police Force in 2020, Omara briefly considered entering politics before joining Capt. Mike Mukula’s private security company, Arrows Security Services.
He often spoke proudly of his post-retirement career, once claiming he earned a seven-figure salary.
Despite his long service, Omara later voiced feelings of abandonment by the institution he had served, a sentiment that drew mixed reactions from the public.
His death closes the chapter on a career that remains deeply intertwined with one of Uganda’s most politically turbulent periods.
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