Police Welcome Appointment of More UPDF Officers

By Fred Kiva

The Uganda Police Force has welcomed the appointment of more UPDF officers to serve in the police.

Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga says the Police looks forward to the knowledge and experience that the senior UPDF officers bring with them. “We look forward to the wealth of knowledge and experience they (UPDF Officers) bring along with them that will help provide top quality policing service to the staff and the wider public,” Enanga said, describing UPDF as more stable now.

On Tuesday President Yoweri Museveni who is also the commander in chief of the armed forces made a mini-reshuffle in the security forces, appointing other senior UPDF officers to key positions in the Uganda Police Force. The president appointed deputy director in charge of counter-terrorism at the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) Col Sserunjoji Ddamulira as the director of crime intelligence in the Uganda Police.

The others are Brigadier Godfrey Golooba as the police director of human resource and training. He replaces AIGP Haruna Isabirye who heads to New York as the Police Attaché to the Ugandan Mission. Others are Col Jesse Kamunanwire who was appointed Director in charge of Human Resource and Administration, replacing AIGP Moses Balimwoyo who has been switched to the Directorate of Interpol and International Relations. Meanwhile, Brig. Jackson Bakashumba has been appointed police chief of staff.

According to Enanga, UPDF Officers are now heading three of the 19 police directorates. The changes come at a time the country especially in the urban centers is experiencing some cases of armed robbery and murder, targeting mostly boda-boda riders and mobile money operators. The newly appointed UPDF officers join their colleague, Maj Gen Sabiiti Muzeyi who is the Deputy Inspector General of Police. The DIGP served SFC commander and Military police commander among other duties before joining the law and order agency.

It’s not the first time senior UPDF officers are deployed to serve in top police positions by the Commander in Chief. UPDF Generals, Katumba Wamala and Kale Kayihura have previously served as Inspector General of Police.