Andrew Felix Kaweesi appointed police spokesperson

Andrew Felix Kaweesi

What you need to know:

Mr Kaweesi is the Director of Human Resource, also former director of operations. He replaces Mr Fred Enanga who has reportedly been sent out for further studies.

Police chief Kale Kayihura has appointed Mr Andrew Kaweesi the special police spokesman as the Force attempts to repair its image tainted by a string of brutality incidents and public relations nightmares.

Mr Kaweesi, whom Gen Kayihura had earlier removed from the Kampala Metropolitan Police command and later from the Directorate of Operations for being “in the media too often”, has been tasked to reclaim the Force’s lost public trust.

“I have appointed AIGP Felix Kaweesi the police spokesman as well as to manage public relations. He will handle this work as a special assignment in addition to his current responsibilities. The officers responsible for public relations are under his management on my behalf,” read a police message sent on behalf of Gen Kayihura.

Mr Kaweesi is also the director of police’s human resource development.
Mr Fred Enanga, who has just returned from two-week training in China, has been the Force’s spokesperson.

Justification
Since the general elections, the police have been criticised by government, civil society and the Opposition for high-handedness in dealing with public demonstrations.

Police sources say Mr Kaweesi’s appointment came after some police directors accused Mr Enanga of failing to respond to police criticism both on social media and in the press instantly.
But sources told Daily Monitor that the police public relations department has been operating on a thin budget since Ms Judith Nabakooba left.

Most of Mr Enanga’s critics have reportedly been lobbying for Mr Kaweesi to take charge since he is a known confidant of Gen Kayihura and with the ability to mobilise funds for public relations.