|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Inspector General Of Police Martins Okoth Ochola seems to be in his last days at the helm of the Uganda Police as his second year contract which started in 2021 comes to an end in less than two weeks.
He was first appointed IGP in March 2018 replacing Gen Kale Kayihura whom he had deputized for some time. When Kayihura fell out with president Museveni and the then security minister Henry Tumukunde, the chance was just ripe to Ochola to ascend to the top seat of the police force.
AD: FOR THE BEST WEB HOSTING, WEB DESIGNS AND DOMAIN NAMES, CALL OR WHATSAPP +256758201313
Kayihura was too powerful in police having been at the help of the Naguru-based forced for a tough 13 years of highs and lows which even brought him sanctions by the US and UK governments. He took over from the current minister of works and Transport Gen Edward Katumba Wamala in 2005
Ochola served well in his first stint as the IGP which prompted the appointed authority to hand him another term which started on 04th March 2021 and is ending in two weeks time in the first week of March 2024. However, questions continue lingering on whether Museveni will give Ochola a third term or will appoint another person.
Since his appointment as the police boss, Ochola has been serving with soldiers at the rank of Maj General as his deputies, he first served with Maj Gen Sabiiti Muzeyi whom Museveni fired in December 2020 after presiding over the November 18th shootings that left over 50 dead.
After firing Sabiiti Muzeeyi, Museveni then appointed Maj Gen Paul Lokech whose stint was short-lived by a blood clot which took his life less than a year on 21st August 2021. Lokech was replaced by Maj Gen Geofrey Katsigazi Tumusiime in January 2022.
A lot of lobbying is currently taking place at the Naguru police headquarters with many anticipating Ochola maybe told to retire given his health troubles as the country heads to the 2026 general elections where Museveni is intending to push his presidential grip to 45 years.
It maybe another person to head police through that period amidst threats of protests from the opposition who say elections are just a scapegoat to legitimize Museveni’s over staying in power but not enough to send him home and want to use the elections to spark an uprising to deny Museveni another 5 years according to Bobi Wine who recently spoke to France 24.
IGP Ochola who is 65 years now is a police veteran who joined the forces in 1987 and has raised through the ranks from a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police, Assistant Commissioner of police, Superintendent of police, Director CID, Assistant IGP and Deputy IGP.
He recently launched the Police’s crimes report of the year 2023 and seems if he’s sent home in the next two weeks, his stint as the police would have come to an end but with a more silent career of emphasizing professionalism in the force.
If you have a story in your community or an opinion article, let’s publish it. Send us an email via ultimatenews19@gmail.com. Follow our WhatsApp Channel HERE and our Telegram Channel HERE to see more of our stories.
