Police's Andrew Kaweesi replaced by deputy

Sep 28, 2013

Andrew Felix Kaweesi has been replaced by his deputy, Derick Muyirima, as the acting Commander of Kampala Metropolitan Police.

By Simon Masaba

Andrew Felix Kaweesi has been replaced by his deputy, Derick Muyirima, as the acting Commander of Kampala Metropolitan Police.

Muyirima deputised Kaweesi as in-charge operations Kampala Metropolitan Police.

Kaweesi told New Vision on phone on Friday that he had been sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) junior academy for an intelligence course.

“With the looming threats of terrorists planning to strike again, the police needs more knowledge in the intelligence department, that’s why am to attend the course,” Kaweesi said.

“Upon my return, I will assume another office as per the directive of my bosses,” he said.

Kaweesi, formerly commandant of Masindi Police Training School in Kabalye, replaced Grace Turyagumanawe as Kampala police boss in a September 2011 reshuffle by deputy Inspector General of Police, Martin Okoth Ochola.

The transfer of Kaweesi then was seen as a move to consolidate the supervision of thousands of officers he had trained since 2007.

Now the man he has worked closely with as Kampala police boss takes charge at a time of heightened terror alert following the recent attack by Shebab militants on Westgate Shopping Mall in neighboring Kenya's capital, Nairobi.

The Saturday attack that lasted four days before local security forces took control of the mall left over 60 dead and several others injured.