Last year Gen Kale Kayihura threw a bash in his native village in Kisiro district to celebrate a 3 year contract renewal as IGP.
He invited President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as the chief guest, and promised loyalty.
But to Kayihura’s successor Okoth Ochola, celebrating his new appointment isn’t a priority but rather ‘work first.’
TrumpetNews has learnt that Mr. Ochola turned down efforts made by residents of Tororo District to hold celebrations for their son of the soil.
Ochola was born in Agumiti Village, Mulanda Sub-county in West Budama County, Tororo District on September 19, 1958.
This website understands that Ochola rejected the celebrations, “because he doesn’t want to seem political,” said a relative.
The organisers wanted to invite the President as the chief guest and also thank him for considering Ochola for such a huge post in government.
But Ochola had earlier told the media that the IGP slot isn’t new to him. He has on several occasions acted a police chief in absence of Kayihura who would go on official duties abroad.
Ochols wields experience of 30 years.
“The family fears the ceremony will be interpreted as political,” another organiser said.
But Kayihura while still in service publicly said that, all security organs serve interests of the ruling party.
Therefore politics is inevitable in police.
We further understand that Ochola who requested to be left out of the thanksgiving preparations will be able to preside over the ceremony as chief guest.
“It seems everything has flopped but we are still pushing,” said an organiser.
One of the government officials who hails from Tororo wondered why Ochola would turn down the ceremony yet his predecessor staged several of these occasions.