Parliament clears Lokech's appointment as Deputy IGP

KAMPALA - The Parliamentary Appointments Committee chaired by the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga on Friday vetted and approved the nomination and appointment of Maj. Gen. Paul Lokech as the new Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP).

Lokech will now officially take over as the new DIGP replacing Maj. Gen. Sabiiti Muzeyi who was recalled and sent back to the army headquarters.

Sources in the Committee noted that Lokech had an easy time given his outstanding record in the fight against terrorism in Somalia. The source further added that Lokech promised the committee that he would rectify most of the anomalies in the force.

President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday appointed Maj. Gen. Paul Lokech as the new Deputy Inspector General of Police (DDIGP) replacing Maj. Gen. Sabiiti Muzeyi citing frustrations from the police force.

Museveni who is also the Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces re-appointed Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba back to the Special Forces Command (SFC) replacing Maj. Gen. James Birungi. Prior to his appointment, Maj Gen. Lokech had been on a special assignment "to monitor on behalf of the guarantors of the South Sudan peace process, the assembling, screening, demobilization and integration of the armed forces of South Sudan".

Maj. Gen. Birungi replaced Lokech.  Museveni also re-appointed Okoth Ochola as Inspector General of Police.

On Friday President Yoweri Museveni while on a campaign tour in Bunyoro and responding to questions from the voters revealed why he had sent away Muzeyi and appointed Lokech.

"The Police had died. They had got some weevils and I made some changes. For the Police, I have told them I won't tolerate this nonsense anymore. Anyone who can't defend the people should go home and rear goats," Museveni said.

On Thursday city lawyer Male Mabirizi petitioned Kadaga who is also the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Appointments Committee not to approve the appointment of Maj. Gen. Paul Lokech as the new Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP). Mabirizi in his letter noted Lokech's appointment was not done in accordance with the Constitution and the Police Act.

"I am aware the President has nominated Maj. Gen. Paul Lokech a serving Uganda Peoples Defence Force officer for approval as the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) and the purpose of this letter is to object to the nomination and any approval because it will be illegal and contrary to the Constitution and the Police Act," Mabirizi argues.

He quoted Sections 9(1)(b) of the Police Act which provides that, "subject to the Constitution, the functions of the Police Authority are to advise the President on the appointment of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), his Deputy, the Assistant IGP, and Commissioners of Police.

Mabirizi also quoted Section 14(2) of the Police Act which provides that, "The Police Authority shall establish the procedure and form of application to be adopted in the appointment of Senior Police Officers in the force."

"Since the appointment process is required to start from the Police Authority which in turn advises the President, a none member of the Uganda Police cannot lawfully become DIGP because he will be lacking the requisite advice which is a condition precedent," Mabirizi added.

Mabirizi further informed the speaker that, approving Lokech for that sensitive position will further worsen the already bad governance situation in Uganda making reference to the November riots following the arrest of Robert Kyagulanyi the National Unity Platform Presidential aspirant in Luuka which he says claimed the lives of about 60 people.