President Yoweri Museveni’s appointment of Assistant Inspector General of Police –AIGP Abbas Byakagaba as the new Inspector General of Police (IGP) whose deputy (DIG) is to be AIGP James Ochaya, marks the return of the force leadership firmly into the hands of no-military professionals.
Byakagaba replaces Martin Okoth Ochola who retired on March 4, this year after being at the helm for six years.
Byakagaba has been serving as Director Counter-Terrorism Police which is one of the elite units of the Uganda Police Force (UPF) responsible for dealing with terrorism, protecting Very Important Persons (VIPs), and some key government installations.
Museveni reportedly tried to convince Ochola to remain serving as IGP to the extent of sending him the State Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen David Muhoozi, but the lawyer-turned-policeman declined.
In fact, Ochola put it in writing through the Minister of Internal Affairs, Gen Kahinda Otafiire, that he was no longer interested in serving as IGP.
Ever since Ochola retired, UPF has been under the leadership of his deputy Maj Gen Geoffrey Katsigazi Tumusiime who some had started speculating that was going to be confirmed in the position of IGP.
However, Byakagaba’s name alongside that of AIGP Francis Xavier Rwego kept coming up in police and other security circles as the next top chief of the police force.
Byakagaba previously served as commander of Kampala Metropolitan which covers Kampala City, Wakiso, Mukono and some parts of Mpigi District.
Byakagaba’s (jointly appointed) deputy James Ochaya is currently serving as director of research since taking over from retired AIGP Edward Ochom in 2021.
AIGP Ochaya was promoted to his current rank in 2022 and if this is confirmed, it will be the first time UPF is being headed by all career police officers in the last 20 years.
From 2001 to 2018, the IGP was a military General starting with Gen Edward Katumba Wamala who served up to 2005 and was replaced by Gen Edward Kale Kayihura who was dropped on March 4, 2018, after being at the helm of police for more than 12 years.
When Ochola was appointed to replace his former boss Gen Kayihura, Museveni gave him Maj Gen Sabiiti Stephen Muzeeyi to serve as his deputy.
Sabiiti was later transferred back to UPDF and he was replaced with Maj Gen Paul Lokech who unfortunately died after serving in police force for only eight months.
Lokech’s death still saw Museveni again appointing another soldier, Maj Gen Katsigazi as deputy to Ochola.
Thus, many current police commanders who are mostly from 2001 intake onwards have never seen the police force fully in the hands of career police officers.
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