After almost two months of waiting, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Kaguta Museveni, has appointed Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Abbas Byakagaba as the new Inspector General of Uganda Police (IGP). According to the brief statement, Byakagaba will start his role effective immediately. He replaces Martin Okoth Ochola, whose tenure ended in March this year.
Byakagaba’s appointment is a surprise considering that he had also retired from the police force together with Ochola.
However, Byakagaba’s experience has seen him bounce back into the force. He is among the few police directors with specialized training, and his specialty is in counter-terrorism. He trained in the US, which gives him an edge over others who were tipped to be appointed to the top position.
Byakagaba previously served as Commander of Kampala Metropolitan Police and Human Resource Director. He also headed the police’s counter-terrorism docket, a position that saw him lead specialized and high-risk operations against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
As the new IGP, he will be deputized by AIGP James Ochaya, who replaces Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Katsigazi.
In other changes, Senior Commissioner Hadijah Namutebi has been appointed the new Director for Research, Planning, and Development, a position previously held by AIGP Ochaya, while Senior Commissioner of Police Moses Kafeero has been appointed as the new Human Resources Director to replace Brig. Godfrey Golooba, who returns to the UPDF.
Others include AIGP Fadhil Kaali, who is now the Director of Fire and Rescue Services, replacing AIGP Joseph Mugisa; AIGP John Nuwagira, who has been the Operations Director, appointed as the new Field Force Unit’s Commandant; Senior Commissioner of Police Frank Mwesigwa, who has been appointed the new Police Operations Director; and Senior Commissioner of Police David Wasswa, who has been appointed the new Police Counter-Terrorism Director.
The appointments are seen as a strategic move to bolster the country’s security apparatus.
