Police recall commander after Kasese attacks

Rwenzori East RPC Mr Deo Obura displaying a gun recovered from the premises of the Kasese District deputy chairperson in Saluti B, Nyamwamba division, Kasese Municipality recently. Mr Obura was without explanation recalled to the headquarters in the capital, Kampala, awaiting deployment by the Human Resource directorate. Photo by Enid Ninsiima

What you need to know:

  • The simultaneous attacks of July 5, 2014 by “Kirumira mutima” group that left 12 people dead, including a police and army officer, saw Mr Musani, the then DPC and his Intelligence counterpart Godwin Tumugumye recalled for “failing and mismanaging the Bigando attack case”.
  • In April, Mr Kagarura was transferred from Kasese to Sezibwa region after the post-election violence.

Kasese. After only seven months on the job, and hours after a military invasion on Sunday left more than 40 dead at the Rwenzururu king’s palace in Kasese District, the police leadership has responded by withdrawing its top commander in the restive region.
Rwenzori East Regional Police Commander (RPC) Deo Obura was without explanation recalled to the headquarters in the capital, Kampala, awaiting deployment by the Human Resource directorate.

He has been replaced by Mr Aguptus Ecotu, formerly of the Police Fisheries Department.
The changes were made on Monday and were expected to take immediate effect, according to transfer orders by the Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura.
The police leadership did not give reason as to why Mr Obura’s deployment was abruptly terminated.
Highly-placed government sources, however, told Daily Monitor that Mr Obura, like his five predecessors, was blamed by the Force leadership for failing to prevent the violence that has ravaged the sun-region.

Mr Obura replaced Bob Kagarura, the first RPC of Rwenzori East, in April this year immediately after the post-election violence erupted in Hima Town Council.
The violence would later spread to Kasenyi Trading Centre in Buhuhira Sub-county. Dozens of people were killed, including civilians, royal guards and security personnel.
In July 2012, Mr George Abaho, the then Kasese District police commander was recalled to police headquarters and replaced by Mr Jonathan Baroza after a group known as ‘Sikiryamuba’ attacked Muhokya Police Station. Police officers and civilians died.

The group also attacked a palace in Busongora where royal regalia and the flag were taken. Mr Abaho was later re-assigned to Oil and Gas department in the Albertine region.
Three months after taking command, Mr Baroza, who is now the personal assistant to Gen Kayihura and coordinating the ongoing operation against Omusinga’s royal guards, was transferred after cows of the Basongora in Karusandara Sub-county were mutilated.
He handed over to Micheal Sabila Musani, who faced several challenges of insecurity during his two-year term until 2014.
The simultaneous attacks of July 5, 2014 by “Kirumira mutima” group that left 12 people dead, including a police and army officer, saw Mr Musani, the then DPC and his Intelligence counterpart Godwin Tumugumye recalled for “failing and mismanaging the Bigando attack case”.

Gen Kayihura oversaw his transfer, subjecting him to public humiliation and promising the people “new blood”. The duo appeared before police’s Professional Standards Unit and were redeployed after a year.
In April, Mr Kagarura was transferred from Kasese to Sezibwa region after the post-election violence. Police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi said: “What is wrong with the RPC being transferred to another area , even me I can be recalled from here to another area.”