Parliament approves Kayihura’s re-appointment

Parliament has approved Gen Kale Kayihura’s appointment for another term of office as the Inspector General of Police.
The appointment committee which vetted Gen Kayihura on Thursday approved his appointment for a fourth term despite repeated calls by the opposition not to.
The opposition had called upon parliament to block his re-appointment, saying it would be an extension of a period of human rights abuses.
Shortly after his approval, Gen Kayihura told journalists at Parliament that he had answered all the questions put to him by the 30 member committee led by the speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga.

Gen Kayihura denied being partisan, as has always been alleged by the opposition and said those who tried to block his re-appointment are the ‘criminals’ he has been fighting. He pledged to closely work with all Ugandans including the opposition.
“Those who said Parliament should not approve me are the criminals and terrorists I have been fighting. However, I will continue working with all people. I will also concentrate on improving on the housing and accommodation for the officers in the force,” said Gen Kyihura.
He admitted there have been some hitches in “our operations but I intend to fix them.”

The last time Gen Kayihura was there to seek his current term, it was not a walk in the park.
November 2011 was a hard month for the Inspector General of Police. After serving for six years, the then Major General came under intense criticism for the gross violations of human rights. This was an addition to the only shattered image of the police as a corruption-ridden force.