ULS welcomes Kayihura's exit, gives new IGP homework

PIC: Gimara says the firing of Kayihura was long overdue

IGP RESHUFFLE

KAMPALA - The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has praised the President's decision to replace Gen. Kale Kayihura with a career Police officer, Okoth Ochola, as the new Inspector General of Police (IGP).

"This appointment is long overdue as the previous leader of the force had taken to blaming everything else for the poor performance of the Police apart from himself. The greatest task of any leader is always to take responsibility for whatever happens under their watch and supervision," said Francis Gimara, president of the law society.

In a statement released on Monday, Gimara noted that for long, they have been worried about the high crime rate, the involvement of criminals in Police work and in many cases, violation of human rights by security personnel.

"It is absurd that the change in leadership had to come out at the cost of rising insecurity, disrespect of human rights and unnecessary deaths of both nationals and foreigners," Gimara said.

He also outlined four issues which need to be sorted out urgently by the new Police boss. These include; a compilation of a comprehensive report indicating both resolved and unresolved crimes and steps being taken to resolve the pending ones.

The lawyers want Ochola to investigate criminal gangs in the country, expose arrest and prosecute the goons.

They also want all Police officers who committed the criminal acts to be brought to book through prosecution.

The lawyer want Ochola to develop a new Police charter reaffirming the Uganda Police commitment to the respect for human rights and accountability to the public at all times on matters of enforcing law and order and restore the public confidence in the institution as a nonpartisan institution.

Yesterday, President Yoweri Museveni fired both Kayihura, who has been serving as the IGP since 2005 and Gen. Henry Tumukunde, the security minister, replacing them with Ochola and Gen. Elly Tumwine, respectively.

Museveni also appointed Brig. Sabiiti Muzeei, the former head of military Police, as the deputy IGP.