Ochola gives former Kayihura aide two days to report to duty

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Kampala. The aide of former Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, has been given two days to return to his duty station or be declared a deserter.
The Inspector General of Police, Mr Martins Okoth-Ochola, yesterday gave ACP Jonathan Baroza 14 days to return to his work station in Algiers, Algeria, starting from July 10.

The police spokesperson, Mr Emilian Kayima, confirmed that Mr Baroza would be declared a deserter after the given period and this, according to Article 59(1) of the Police Act, would turn him into a criminal who would be arrested on sight.

“When an officer is declared AWOL [absent without leave], he is expected to surface within 21 days. This was the same period given to ACP Baroza until a search for him was issued. We believe he will return to his duty station within the remaining period or else he will be declared a deserter,” Mr Kayima said.
Mr Ochola, in a message on July 10, directed Mbarara District Police Commander to search for him.
“DPC Mbarara is required to search for him at the home of Kabiguruka Yovas of Karora Village in Ruganda Sub-county, Mbarara District, and advise the same to report back to his duty station by 22/7/2018 or else be declared a deserter,” the message reads in part.
Asked why officers had been ordered to search for ACP Baroza in Mbarara yet he was posted to Algeria as police attaché, the IGP said the embattled officer had been missing from his duty.
“When you are not at your duty, we search for you. He is not at his duty and we want to know where he is,” Mr Ochola said.
Mr Kayima yesterday told Daily Monitor that a search at Mr Kabiguruka’s home had yielded no results.
Mr Baroza was posted to Algeria as Uganda Police Force attaché by Gen Kayihura, after some sections of the society linked him to the murder of police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi.
Reports emerged yesterday that Turkey had written to Uganda police claiming that Mr Baroza was in Istanbul weeks ago before he flew to Canada, a claim Mr Kayima dismissed.
“We have not received any communication from any of those countries,” he said.

The only communication we have is from Algeria where he has been missing from his duty station. No one is witch-hunting him but we want to know where he is,” he said.
Article 59(1) of the Police Act stipulates that a person who deserts the service in the force commits an offence and is liable to conviction by a criminal court to imprisonment for one year.
The same Act further says that an officer is declared a deserter when he or she is absent from duty without authority for a continuous period of 21 days.
Desertion is criminal and an arrest warrant is usually issued to all investigating officers to arrest such an officer on sight.