Police scraps five directorates, MAK security boss recalled

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martins Okoth Ochola has scrapped five directorates to streamline command and control in the force. Sources in Police said the new changes are also aimed at eliminating duplication of roles that had bloated the forces' expenditure.

The directorates affected are Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP), special duties, Directorate of Peace Support, Directorate of Parliament Police, and Field Force Unit (FFU).

Sources said KMP, special duties, Parliamentary Police, and FFU (formerly all headed by directors), are now departments and were placed under the directorate of operations, headed by Assistant IGP Edward Ochom.

Previously, Parliamentary Police run a huge budget with no staff, yet it depended on assistance (deployment) from KMP, which is responsible for Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono. Parliament has since been turned into a division with a Police commander, like an active Police station.

The Directorate of Peace Support (DPS), formerly led by AIGP Grace Turyagumanawe (retired), has been placed under the  National Central Bureau (NCB) — Kampala, commonly known as the directorate of interpol and international relations. DPS' main aim is deployment in Somalia.

A month after his appointment as IGP, Ochola merged units and empowered the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID).

Previously, CID, headed by Assistant IGP Grace Akullo, had its powers clipped following the extraction of its core investigation components, with some being disbanded.

The Flying Squad Unit (FSU) was extracted from CID and attached to the directorate of crime intelligence. CID's Special Investigations Unit (SIU), renowned for probing sophisticated crime, had also been disbanded.

Weighing in on the creation of several units in the force, security experts said they (units) only brewed friction among supervisors.

A copy of the message titled: Force reorganisation order stated: "Pursuant of section (1) of the Police Act, I am ordering the following force re-organisation: The functions of the Directorate of Oil and Gas are merged with those of the Directorate of Counter-Terrorism (CT), thereby forming a division of oil and gas."

Ochola ordered the supervision of all specialised units, including Anti-Stock Theft Unit, canine, Police Air wing, Railway Police, all regional and district Police commanders, Environmental Protection Police, marine, agricultural Police, Mineral Protection Police and Presidential Protection Group back to the directorate of operations.

Transfers

Wednesday, a source said the arm of reorganisation had also affected senior Police officers in the latest reshuffle.

Makerere security boss Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ibrahim Saiga was dropped and moved to the human resource management, pending fresh deployment.

Until Wednesday, Saiga, who was replaced by Cyrus Omara (SSP), has been under the spotlight after the Makerere fire that razed the Ivory Tower on September 20.

Several issues, including cases of laxity and negligence by both the university administration and security personnel, have since been raised by top Government officials and Police management.

Omara, who was previously deployed as commander in Bukedi North, is among the over 50 senior officers that were transferred. SSP Bob Kagarura replaced Omara.

Ochola moved SSP John Ewotu from HRM to National Drug Authority, as an attache. SSP Eddie Serunjogi from HRM Police headquarters was appointed the Regional Police Commander (RPC) of Rwenzori West. Francis Chemusto (SSP) was redeployed to Mt. Moroto as RPC. He has been on a Police study course.

Ochola moved SSP Ignatius Otong from Rwenzori West to Wamala region as RPC and SP Alfred Owili from the ASTU to Savanah as deputy RPC. SSP Gerald Byensi Twishime has since been appointed commandant ASTU.

ASP Ronald Nyaika from the sports department was moved to Counter Terrorism (CT), headed by Assistant IGP Abbas Byakagaba, while ASP Roland Musingwire from CT was moved to the PMPU. Ochola also moved ASP Yvonne Zawadi from exodus SACCOS Police headquarters, to the CID headquarters and Stephen Engwedu (ASP), a training officer fire and rescue services besides his duties, was also tasked with being the liason officer for Interpol — disaster victim identification. ASP Livingstone Sendikadiwa was moved from HRM to welfare and production directorate.