Former IGP Kisembo is dead
Deceased. Inspector General of Police John Kisembo. Courtesy photo
What you need to know:
- Kisembo has been working as the acting director from United Nations Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders until his death.
- He was among the group of the first graduates to join Uganda Police Force in 1980.
Former Inspector General of Police John Kisembo has died.
Kisembo, 64, died in a city hospital where he has been undergoing treatment for months.
Police’s Chief Political Commissar Asan Kasingye confirmed his death on his social media accounts.
“I am sad and blue about my former boss and friend. Rest thee well IGP (Emeritus), John Kisembo,” Assistant Inspector General of Police Kasingye tweeted.
Kisembo was appointed IGP on January 3, 1999, and retired on April 11, 2001. He was replaced by Gen Katumba Wamala.
He has been the acting director of United Nations Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders until his death.
Kisembo was born on October 1, 1955, at Kitema, Kibaale District.
He went to Mugalike Primary School and later joined Moroto Municipal Primary School.
He joined St Mary’s College Kisubi for his Ordinary Level education, but he completed at St Edward Secondary School in Bukuumi in Kibaale District.
In the early 1970s, Kisembo joined Old Kampala SS for his advanced level education and was admitted to Makerere University to study Sociology.
His leadership skills started to manifest when he was voted the information minister of Northcore Hall (now Nsibirwa Hall) from 1976 to 1977.
Police duties
On February 12, 1980, Kisembo was among a select group of graduates that were admitted to the police as cadet Assistants Superintendent of Police.
Former Inspector General of Police Cossy Odomel, Assistant Inspector General of Police (Retired) Elizabeth Muwanga, Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi, former CID director Chris Bakiza, and General David Sejusa Tinyefuza were his intake mates.
They trained at Dar-es-salaam Police Training College in Tanzania for one year. Kisembo was then appointed officer-in-charge of Gulu Police Station.
In 1981, he was sent to Special Branch and transferred to Mbale District as the regional Special Branch Officer until 1982.
He was then sent to Moroto for one year and later to Mbarara for two years.
In 1986, when President Museveni came to power, he was transferred to Special Branch headquarters where he worked as the government protective security officer for four years.
He was promoted to Deputy Director Special Branch and retained the position for two years before he was appointed the police director of administration.
He became the IGP in 1999.
