Police chief slams opposition leaders

Jul 14, 2010

THE Inspector General of Police (IGP), Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, has rejected a demand by the opposition MPs to resign for allegedly ‘sitting on intelligence information’, which they claim resulted in Sunday night’s bombings.

By Josephine Maseruka

THE Inspector General of Police (IGP), Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, has rejected a demand by the opposition MPs to resign for allegedly ‘sitting on intelligence information’, which they claim resulted in Sunday night’s bombings.

“I will not resign. I will go when the appointing authority tells me to do so and I will leave as a clean man with the public as my witnesses,” Kayihura said.

In a Tuesday statement on the bombings, the MPs said despite threats by Al-Shabaab’s leader, Mohammed Abdi Godane, of July 5 to hit Uganda and Burundi, Kayihura and security minister Amama Mbabazi did not warn Ugandans.

The statement read by Prof. Ogenga Latigo, the leader of the opposition, said: “We also reject and condemn the callous attempt by the IGP to shift the blame for the bombings on the management of the two places hit.

In his response, Kayihura said: “People should not act on prejudices they have against others. The opposition members may not want us, but we are on the right course. What have they done to mobilise people on security? Why haven’t they asked Odonga Otto, who points guns at people, to resign?”

Kayihura explained that long before the July threats, security agencies had started sensitising the public through community policing.

“In Kampala, 70% of the places revellers go to have as a result put security measures among them hand detectors and bouncers. When we asked the managers of Kyadondo Rugby Club and the Ethiopian Village Restaurant, they had no security measures in place.”

The Police chief also said media organisations had also relayed information on terrorist attacks, but admitted to not specifically alerting the public on the World Cup Final.

“Unless they are suggesting that we deploy security personnel in every place, which is impossible or we decide to close all these places.” Mbabazi could not be reached for a comment.
the collective commitment of Africa to support peace in the country, the Government should immediately review the country’s security in light of the Al-Shabaab threats.

They also want the Government to petition the African Union meeting due in Kampala next week on the contribution of the other countries to the AMISOM Mission in Somalia in order to minimise risks.

The MPs are seeking an urgent meeting with the Government to review Uganda’s deployment in Somalia.

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