Top investigator of July 11 bombings transferred

Kampala

Police Chief Kale Kayihura has transferred the head of the Special Investigations Unit, Commissioner Hillary Odoch, who led investigations into the July 11 bombs that killed over 80 people in Kampala.

Police sources, who preferred anonymity because they are not allowed to talk to the press, told Daily Monitor yesterday that Maj. Gen. Kayihura has replaced Mr Odoch with Detective Assistant Commissioner Grace Akullo. Ms Akullo has been the head of general crimes at the Criminal Investigations Directorate at Kibuli.

The transfer
“The transfer was effected last week and Ms Akullo has already reported to office at Kololo,” a source said. Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is an autonomous agency that investigates serious crimes that require high expertise. But some sources say it was created to reduce information leakage, corruption and delay of justice which have characterised CID over the years.

Mr Odoch has been transferred to the homicide department at CID as its head. Among the first assignments SIU undertook was the search for a kidnapped toddler Khan Kakama. However, the unit was unable to save the toddler from his captors who confessed to killing him. Ms Akullo’s appointment comes after she successfully led investigations into misuse of Global Fund cash. Some of the culprits were convicted by the Anti-Corruption Court.

Another change
Maj. Gen. Kayihura has also made changes in the Information and Communications Technology directorate, appointing Mr Amos Ngabirano, a civilian, as the director of ICT. Mr Ngabirano replaces Assistant Inspector General of Police Paul Nasimolo who remains in the directorate as his subordinate. He is the first and the only civilian to be appointed a director in the Force. When contacted yesterday, Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said she had not yet received the communication since she has not been in office.