Can new Police Chief Abas Byakagaba deliver?

By Our reporter

KAMPALA – Members of the public have expressed mixed feelings over the appointment of Abbas Byakagaba as the Inspector General of Police, some saying his mode of operation will not differ from that of his predecessors. However, others have confidence in him since he is a season professional police office who has risen from junior ranks.

“Given that he is mandated to take orders from President Yoweri Museveni, Byakagaba should have been deployed as a technical advisor, as he had just retired from the Police Force two weeks ago,” said Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, Kiira Municipality Member of Parliament, a view also seconded by Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of Opposition in Parliament in the house.

Dr Kizza Besigye, former Presidential candidate, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), one of the main opposition political party welcomed Byakagaba but described his appointment as a very daunting task.

“He heads very poorly paid police officers, living in horrible conditions, poorly equipped and facilitated and very demoralised! He has to police a very deprived and angry population that want a different country- Karibu (you are welcome),” Besigye posted on his X (twitter).

Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Mwesigye Frank watered down Dr Besigye’ criticism drawing his attention to his allegedly ‘disoriented’ family as he posted his half naked son with lady friends.

Mwesigye posted, “Just to remind you Dr @kizzabesigye1 that first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”  

Francis Bahinduka, also did not have kind words for Dr Besigye for his comments on the Police.

“Isn’t he the product of the police you are undermining? Where did you leave the police and how much have the police declined? What exactly did you put in place and now isn’t there? What about the Najjanankumbi police (FDC headquarters)? Is the Katonga police (FDC breakaway faction) better than the Najjanankumbi?” he posted.

When Yoweri Museveni became president in 1986, Besigye, then aged 29, was appointed Minister of State for Internal Affairs, the political supervisor of Uganda Police Force.

Another person only identified as Muhoozi’s boy also replied Dr Besigye.

“@mkainerugaba (Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba) is my next president, he will fix all those, just let us trust him as you (Dr Besigye) endeavour to resolve the misunderstandings within your groups (FDC),” he posted.

Andrew Bagala, a senior journalist said despite of those challenges, there is no plan to fund policing.

While one identified as Turyamusiima said the police men and women are okay with the conditions.

But one identified as Marine6 dared those who think Police is ill equipped with old machinery.

“Poorly equipped try them if you a well-equipped,” he posted.

Mansa Musa said Dr Besigye’ concerns are immaterial.

“As if police in Uganda is starting yesterday, Byakagaba has been and is a professional police officer while, @kizzabesigye1, has never been in police, though he was a soldier. All police challenges are a common issue to every police officer- no need of reminding the new IGP.”

In his post Nick A. Nekemia said, “In my opinion, these public servants don’t mind about lower rank officers they head and population…. as long the appointee is made happy, That’s all.”

While Omujugujugu Moses, a staunch National Resistance Movement (NRM) support said, “We shall support him (IGP) to deliver on his mandate.”

Profile of Byakagaba

President Yoweri Museveni, on May 17^th 2024, appointed the former Director for Counter-Terrorism in the Police, Abbas Byakagaba, as the new Inspector General of Police. Byakagaba replaces former IGP Martin Okoth Ochola, who recently retired from the Police Force. But who is Abbas Byakagaba? We have the profile of the new Inspector General of Police Byakagaba.

The appointments continue the return of the force leadership firmly into the hands of professional policemen.

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 of key government installations.

Museveni reportedly tried to convince Ochola to remain serving as IGP 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 chiefs 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 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 of intakes 2001 onwards have never seen the police force being fully in the hands of career police officers.