By Our Reporters
Outgoing Inspector General of Police Gen Kale Kayihura has today handed over office to successor Okoth Ochora and announced his availability and readiness for fresh deployment by the CiC in any other capacity. Kayihura indirectly made known his availability when he said: “I thank His Excellence the President and Commander in Chief [CiC] for the trust and confidence he has had in me. I’m a loyal soldier of UPDF and cadre in the transformation of our country. That is what I have always been and that’s what I will remain. I send all this message to the H/E the President through you sir [Minister Jeje Odong].” This was widely interpreted to imply Kayihura’s availability and wish to be redeployed with fresh assignments.
He said it was such honor that President Museveni allowed him to make record being the longest serving IGP in Uganda since independence. He also said he was grateful being promoted from Maj General, to Lt. General and eventually to the full General he is today. The calm-talking General in the same speech had earlier on implored Okoth Ochora to make use of him as a crime preventer because “I remain very much available to support this cause.” He said he had already spoken to his LC1 Chairman in Muyenga seeking to be re-enrolled as a crime preventer and a volunteer intending to always be available to compliment police efforts to fight crime. Kayihura ran through his achievements as IGP and also acknowledged shortcomings saying it was inevitable to make mistakes because “I’m human.” He used the occasion to reach out and apologize to those he might have wronged in execution of his duties as IGP.
He maintained there was nothing personal but all these excesses happened in the honest service of his country Uganda. He also singled out individuals he worked with and whose invaluable contribution enabled him register so many achievements. These include his former deputy Julius Odwee who he recalled playing a very big role in the restoration of policing services in northern Uganda after the LRA/Kony war. “He has always not talked well about me yet he left on his own. Nobody hounded out of the UPF but because I’m intellectually honest, I must acknowledge his contribution,” Kayihura said of opposition-leaning Odwee who has always judged him harshly in media interviews. He said he was proud handing over to Ochora and D/IGP Brig Muzeeyi Sabiiti Mugyenyi “because these are comrades I have worked with before.” He said whereas Ochora was his deputy, Sabiiti had closely worked with him to accomplish many high importance tasks including securing Uganda during the Queen’s visit for the 2007 Chogm meeting in Kampala.
Kayihura said by picking the two, the President must have looked at continuity while simultaneously infusing in new blood. Besides the President, Kayihura (who grew the Police Force from 14,000 to 46,000 men) thanked the Chief Justice Bart for working well with him in the JLOS forum and Speaker Kadaga for being understanding and institutionally supporting the Uganda Police Force each time they came knocking on her door. The two ministers Jeje Odong and Obiga Kania (who have been his political supervisors) saluted Gen Kayihura saying he had done very well as the head of Police including being very assertive when lobbying for improved funding of the Force which grew 525% in the last 12 years of his reign as IGP (Shs86.4bn to Shs540bn). Odong said this was realized because Kayihura always spoke forcefully and with a lot of clarity when pushing for increased police funding.
KASINGYE TRIBUTE:
Speaking on behalf of the senior police officers (he called them police generals), who served under Gen Kayihura, Police Commissar Asan Kasingye revealed why they will always be grateful to the outgoing IGP as a mentor. He said Kayihura taught them self-esteem, sent them for further studies, genuinely empowered them and always introduced them to the President who “now knows us by name, face and rank.” He said Kayihura was never selfish and always “delegated us to meet the President and international partners which boosted our self-esteem.” Kasingye, who first met Gen Kayihura as a finalist Makerere student in the late 1980s, recalled being repeatedly reminded not to refer to KK as boss or even friend. That Kayihura always referred to them as ndugu and expected them to address him in the same way.
“You were always down to earth and we are pleased the way you equally mentored all of us left no doubt in the mind of the H/E that your deputy would take over from you. It could have been any of us because you equally prepared us all to take over this role,” Kasingye said attracting applause from fellow AIGPs. He caused more prolonged laughter when he referred to Kayihura’s wife Angela commending her for the long hours of KK’s spousal absence that she endured as the father of her children went places to serve his country. “Please thank her for us for her humility. I remember the mandazi she baked for us and you always carried them for us during meetings at our former police headquarters [Parliamentary Avenue].” Kasingye said he believes Kayihura was always genuine in his resolve to use the community-based approaches to fight crime. He recalled the phone call the two had the Monday after Kayihura was dropped the previous Sunday. “You told me, I hope you still remember sir, that we must carry on fighting crime even when I’m no longer the IGP,” Kasingye said proceeding to quote the Bible according to which he insisted there is no way Kayihura’s good works will go unrewarded by God.
An emotionally overwhelmed Kayihura, looking enthused, raised his hands and loudly asked to get a copy of Kasingye’s speech so that he frames and keeps it in his house. He said it was such a memorable tribute, he would always carry it with him wherever he will go. Several Kayihura critics immediately took to the social media dismissing Kasingye’s speech as an act of betrayal and not reflective of how Kasingye privately/genuinely feels about Gen Kayihura’s legacy. Kasingye insisted that many of his colleagues wouldn’t be the AIGPs they are today if it wasn’t for Kayihura’s comprehensive program to promote officers, expose them to training opportunities and raise their self-esteem. For comments, call/txt/whatsapp us on 0703164755!
