The elite unit of the army Special Forces Command (SFC) is set to take control of crucial positions and offices within the Police as part of the wider security operation.

The decision, according to high ranking official in security who asked not to be named, is to swiftly respond to the recent spike in violent crimes across the country.

The development follows startling announcement made by the Commander In Chief, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Sunday relieving his long serving trusted General Kale Kayihura as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), barely a year after renewing his contract.

His deputy Ochola Okoth is the new Police Chief deputised by Military Police Commander Brig Sabiti Muzeyi

To many observers, Brig Sabiti will take charge of the Police Establishment, executing covert missions while Ochola will handle more of the policy issues.

Museveni also dropped Gen Henry Tumukunde as Security Minister and appointed Gen Elly Tumwine.

Tumukunde whose relationship with Kayihura has been surreal, upped his ante on Police and caused several arrests of powerful officers who are accused of committing heinous crimes including kidnap, robbery, murders.

Shockingly those battling Court Charges were close allies of Gen Kale Kayihura who several times was quoted by local press heaping praises on these ‘trusted’ officers.

To the public, Tumukunde fulfilled his role of exposing and subsequent exit of Kayihura from Police which he had ran for 13 years.

Takeover

TrumpetNews, understands that the decision made by the President earlier was to appoint a military officer ‘nurtured’ by SFC, the most highly trained, disciplined a trusted unit of UPDF.

“It encompasses a breed of young officers who are ambitious and are still subordinate to the Fountain of Honour,” said an official.

Adding that it had become clear that Police under the watch of Kayihura had completely failed its mandate and with military organs, Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and Internal Security Organisation (ISO) intervening it further created insecurity- battle for supremacy- and drew ire among the security chiefs.

“In that regard SFC is the only neutral unit,” he added.

The takeover according to this official will be executed covertly by replacing current Regional Police Commanders (RPCs), District Police Commander (DPC) and several heads of units within the institution with SFC commanders in a mega police reshuffle.

“The reshuffle will soon be announced.”

Most of the units whose existing leadership will be dissolved, according to our source are Crime Intelligence which is headed by Lt Col Atwoki Ndahura, Flying Squad, and then massively dissolve the management at police headquarters based in Naguru which is believed to be source of the ‘ghost’ haunting police.

“I can assure you the President is ready to revamp the whole police.”

It must be remembered that at a time of his appointment as Police Chief in 2005, President Museveni had suggested to disband Police Institution but Kayihura pledged he would turn it around to one of the ‘revered’ organisations which he had tried to do.

Observers however, blame him for relaying so much on criminals-cum- informants who would later wield powers more than professional officers.

“Old habits die hard”- so they say.

Museveni last year in March confessed how police had been infiltrated by criminals, he warned Kayihura to clean the Force.

UPDF spokesman Brig Richard Karemire, couldn’t be reached for a comment.

SFC commander Brig Don Nabasa was also unavailable on phone.