News on Sunday that President Yoweri Museveni had sacked Gen. Edward Kale Kyezike Kayihura Uganda’s long-serving Inspector General of Police and his counterpart Security Minister Rt. Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde drew mixed reactions across the country. So why did the President break Gen. Kayihura a man who has been deeply loyal to him for decades. “There was an admission by the President himself and the former IGP that the Police had been infiltrated by criminals so I believe part of that is to solve that infiltration.” Said, Dr. Gerald Karyeija – Governance Analyst. “It is not so much that Kayihura had failed to Policing percent but because he had conflicted with Gen. Tumukunde.” Said, Ndebesa Mwambusya – Historian.
Kayihura a soldier and lawyer was replaced by his former deputy Martin Okoth Ochola a carrier policeman who will be deputized by a former Commander of the Military Police Brig. Steven Sabiti Muzeeyi Magyeni. “He has specifically listened to my view to those who were saying do not militarize the Police. The Police has a special role it plays that is not necessarily military. As to whether that will play out is another conversation that we can have since the deputy does come from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence.” Said, Daniel Ruhweza – Lawyer.
Makerere History Don Professor Mwambusya Ndebesa said it would be naïve for anyone to expect a change in the new leadership of the Police and Intelligence Agencies. “I don’t see any change we are going to have Kayihuraism without Kayihura because the General that has been appointed deputy of Ochola will also I think do the same in respect of political Policing.” The analyst said perhaps Kayihura’s strength lay in the sublime in the Opposition political activities having overseen three general elections; 2006, 2011 and 2016, 2 of which were contested in the Supreme Court. They argued that Kayihura had moved into an Inspector General of Politics rather than Police.
“There was the preoccupation with restoring order in the political domain and it overshadowed or maintaining order in the criminal domain.” Said, Gerald Karyeija – Governance Analyst. “Generally, he seemed to thrive more to the political angle in my own observation than putting in place strategies for investigation of crime.” Said, Daniel Ruhweza – Lawyer. “He even started delegating power to criminal forces like Kifesi and Boda-Boda 2010. I have always said actually Kayihura kifesinized the Police.” Said, Ndebesa Mwanbusya – Historian.
In April 2007 at the burial of then-Defense Ministry Permanent Secretary and former Head of Military Intelligence Brigadier Noble Mayombo, President Museveni described Kayihura as a true NRM cadre and Kayihura lived the description. He said much at a Thanksgiving party in March last year in his father’s honor that sold him native in Kisoro district. “Gen. Kayihura did not betray the President in as far as political spying and political policing is concerned. He was doing exactly why he was appointed to be an NRM cadre in the security forces and he concentrated on that and he did it successfully.”
The President sprung another surprise when he appointed the current Army MP and former Army Commander Gen. Elly Tumwine to replace Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde as Security Minister. Others said this Bush War hero was expected to cool the tensions. “The President wanted to bring a Minister of Security that appears to be calm and has a national appeal and somebody who does not belong to factions.” Said, Dr. Gerald Karyeija – Government Analyst. “I think Tumwine will also do very well in respect of political policing. He is going to do as much as Kayihura and Tumukunde.” Said, Ndebesa Mwambusya – Historian. This is what the Analysts want the new leadership to start with. “Their first priority is to bind back public confidence in the government and to remove the fear that had trumped into our hearts. I don’t know about you but personally, I began fearing when I park at my gate and start hooting.”
