Kayihura lauds M7 for standing with him during brutality criticism

By Serestino Tusingwire

The Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, has thanked President Museveni for standing with him and the police force during his trying moments when he was under public criticism for allegedly brutalizing Opposition supporters.

“We thank you in a special way for standing up for us at a critical moment when we were under attack,” Gen Kayihura told the President over the weekend during the pass-out of cadet officers and police constables at the Police Training School, Kabalye, Masindi District.

“Understanding that building institutions and systems is a painstaking process, it isn’t drama. There are mistakes and setbacks because we are human beings. However, we thank you for the appreciation inspite of these setbacks and mistakes made.” Kayihura added:

It’s remembered that last month, Gen Kayihura and seven senior police officers were dragged to Makindye court in a private prosecution on charges of torturing Dr Kizza Besigye’s supporters.

Activists alleged that he had failed to manage his officers and demanded for his sacking.

On the contrary, President Museveni praised Gen Kayihura for not tolerating any kind of Fujo in Kampala.

While at the same function, President Museveni said the time for housing armed forces, teachers and health workers in ramshackle structures has ended.

“I have told the army leadership that we have stayed in mama ingiya pole (ramshackle structures) for a very long time. Time has come to get our children from Mama ingiya pole to permanent structures,” he said.

On the very issue, Gen Kayihura said the police have started building 1,000 apartments for police officers at Naguru, a Kampala suburb, and that they are planning another 9,000 units in the Kampala Metropolitan Police Area.

“We shall use our land in the city through the Private-Public Partnership to solve the problem of housing in the police force,” Gen Kayihura said.