KAMPALA – A concerned citizen has given Internal Affairs Minister Gen Jeje Odongo 10 days to withdraw a directive allowing 12 Police directors, whose contracts have expired, to stay in office.
On January 7, Gen Odongo wrote to the Inspector General of Police, saying the police directors can stay in office, pending the decision of the President who is the appointing authority. The contracts of the directors, who include Asan Kasingye (Chief Political Commissar), Edward Ochom (Research and Planning), Abas Byakagaba (Counter-Terrorism) and Grace Turyagumanawe (Peace Support Operations), expired at the end of 2019.
And Mr Lodovic Kwehangana, in a January 10 letter, wants Gen Odongo to withdraw the directive to the IGP or he sues him.
“Take notice therefore that if within 7days, you the Inspector General of Police do not cause the said officers to vacate the offices and you Sir the Attorney General cause the withdraw of Annexture ‘A’ (the Minister’s letter) we shall file legal proceedings and seek their immediate eviction,” the letter reads in part.
In the January 7 letter, Gen Odongo told the IGP that the police directors can stay in office in order not to disrupt continuity of service.
“You will recall that in the last Police Authority meeting the above matter was discussed. As you are aware this matter has not yet been concluded by the Appointing Authority. In order not to disrupt continuity of service, particularly at this time, this serves to guide you to allow the concerned /affected officers to stay in office until the Appointing Authority determines otherwise,” Gen Odongo wrote.
The affected directors also include Mr Lemmy Twinomujuni (Welfare and Production), Mr Joseph Mugisa (Fire and Rescue Services), Mr Felix Ndyomugenyi (Deputy Director for Human Resource Development and Mr John Ndungutse (Security Attache to Uganda’s High Commission in Nairobi). Others are Mr Haruna Isabirye (Human Resource Development), Mr Francis Rwego (Special Interpol Representative to the African Union), Mr Andrew Sorowen (Special Duties) and Hajj Moses Balimwoyo (Interpol and International relations).
