KAMPALA–As the Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura is fighting to protect his image before the public, a retired senior Police officer has come out, accusing him of running the Police force unprofessionally.
This is the second time, Herbert Rheno Karugaba, the retired Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police, is coming out to openly criticize Kayihura.
In a dossier that PML Daily has seen, Karugaba criticised Kayihura’s routine appearance at scenes of crime minutes after horrendous murders have been committed.
“This is never done in other police forces as it immediately confuses levels of command and Scenes of Crime Officers cannot concentrate on the work at hand,” he explained.
He also pointed out that Kayihura’s penchant for avoiding established police structures (CID) and standing orders, has led him to employ criminals in the UPF, much to the detriment of the professionalism of the Force.
Karugaba said this has reached alarming proportions, forcing/prompting other security agencies to step in and halt your excesses.
Opposition grumbles
Opposition figure like Dr. KIZZA Besigye, the former FDC boss, the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, legislators Moses Kasibante and Muwanga Kivumbi, among others, are also accusing Kayihura of using Boda boda 2010 Association, a body uniting motorists, to terrorise those opposed to the NRM government.
Last week, Kayihura and the leader of Bodaboda 2010 Association, Abdullah Kitata, were dragged to court, for harassing and beating school-going children and their teachers because of wearing red uniforms.
Currently, any one wearing red attires is taken to be opposing the lifting of the Presidential age limit. And Kitata openly said he will fight those who are opposing it.
Kayihura responds
Appearing before NBS, a Local TV this week, Kayihura attacked Karugaba, describing him as only invitee to the dinner ceremony who later turned down the invitation.
“I am very proud that I did. As long as I know I am speaking the truth, I do not mind standing alone. The fact that others turned up does not mean they agreed with your harebrained methods of administration of the Police Force,” Karugaba responded.
Questioned cadreship
He also explained that much as President Museveni was referring to Kayihura as best cadre of NRM party, an officer in the Uniform of one of the armed Forces of this country, Karugaba proudly stated that he is very widely trained, experienced, and highly professional police officers in this country.
“And if anybody ever referred to me as a cadre of any political persuasion, I would promptly offer my resignation, period,” he added.
Karugaba accused Kayihura of handling the Uganda Police Force like his personal property.
Karugaba has appeared in the news, making personal observations, on the way the Uganda Police is doing its work.
These critical views have annoyed senior Police Officers, including the IGP.
Recently, Karugaba penned down his views and sent them to Kayihura, in a registered mail.
This week, Kayihura when he asked about Karugaba’s views, said he respected his opinions but added that what he was talking about was rubbish.
I watched an NBS broadcast on the morning of 1/11/2017 in which the veteran journalist Solomon Serwanja paused some questions to you arising out of a letter I wrote to you on the 12/6/2014. You said that you respected my opinions, but in the same sentence, you added that what I pointed out in the letter was rubbish.
1. When I wrote that letter, I specifically addressed it to you in person.
2. I sent the letter by EMS of the Uganda Posts and Telecommunications. The intention was to make sure that the letter was delivered straight to your desk, and not through the Police Headquarters Registry. This was deliberate: I wanted you to read the letter before anyone else, so that you could choose whether to respond to it or not without the involvement of a third party.
3. It is compulsory for everyone sending a letter/package by EMS to indicate the personal telephone number of the sender. My telephone number was therefore clearly visible on the EMS address patch attached to the envelope. You never called me to discuss the contents of the letter.
4. Shortly afterwards the contents of the letter appeared in the press, swiftly followed by a partial response from your office which was penned by a Mr Enanga and published by the New Vision purporting to respond to some of the points I had raised. It ignored most of those that were not convenient for him and you to tackle. I could only surmise that you thought it was beneath you to respond directly to me and you involved third parties, namely Mr Enanga, of the then Public Relations Office at Police Headquarters.
You routinely appear at scenes of crime minutes after horrendous murders have been committed. This is never done in other police forces as it immediately confuses levels of command, and Scenes of Crime Officers cannot concentrate on the work at hand. Your penchant for avoiding established police structures (CID) and standing orders has led you to employ criminals in the UPF, much to the detriment of the professionalism of the Force. This has reached alarming proportions, forcing/prompting other security agencies to step in and halt your excesses.
Lastly, in the NBS interview, you gleefully mentioned that I was the only invitee to the dinner ceremony who turned down the invitation. I am very proud that I did. As long as I know I am speaking the truth I do not mind standing alone. The fact that others turned up does not mean they agreed with your harebrained methods of administration of the Police Force, or the fact that for the first time since the Independence of Uganda, Mr Museveni was referring to you, an officer in the Uniform of one of the armed Forces of this country, as a the best cadre of the NRM! I am one of the very widely trained, experienced, and highly professional police officers in this country, and if anybody ever referred to me as a cadre of any political persuasion, I would promptly offer my resignation, period.
