As the country mourns the sudden death of Deputy Inspector General of Police Maj Gen Paul Lokech who allegedly succumbed to blood clot, former presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine has issued a statement mourning the fallen general before hitting at the regime for ruining his career and reputation.
“The untimely death of Maj. Gen. Paul Lokech is very shocking. I want to send deepest condolences to his family, friends and the UPDF fraternity. I also send deep condolences to the people of Acholi sub-region for losing a dear son, who defied the odds and rose to the top,”said Bobi Wine in a statement.
He describes Gen. Lokech as a gallant, courageous and fine soldier.
“A lot has been said about his bravely on the battle-field. His peers talk of how he commanded from the front, sometimes putting his life on the line. He had such a distinguished military career which many younger officers and men were eager to emulate,” he said.
The National Unity Platform (NUP) leader however accusses the Museveni regime of not only destroying the nation, but also destroying careers and reputations of great men and women.
“Eight months ago, Gen. Lokech, who many Ugandans did not know, was deployed as Deputy Inspector General of Police. This was shortly after the November bloodbath, where the military and police recklessly murdered over one hundred innocent citizens.
Gen. Museveni, afraid to his skin of an impending election defeat, and well aware of the kind of rigging he was plotting to do, decided to deploy Gen. Paul Lokech to stop any attempt of the people of Uganda to rise up and reclaim their democratic rights,” said Bobi Wine.
He added; “Shortly after, another former Commander of the Ugandan Contingent in Somalia, Maj. Gen. Kayanja Muhanga was deployed as overall head of operations in Kampala. Gen. Museveni boasted that he had deployed commandos from Somalia to neutralise the situation in Kampala.”
Bobi Wine claims that Gen Lokech was lured to make his hands dirty as he executed Museveni’s plans.
“Thousands of Ugandans were abducted, hundreds tortured and many others killed in cold blood. My campaign team was arrested in Kalangala and taken through hell, before they were taken to Kitalya for several months – to an extent that hundreds of them are still missing or under illegal detention,” Bobi Wine said.
“It is therefore very unfortunate that Gen. Lokech who by all accounts was a fine soldier had his good record spoiled by the regime just in the last eight months of his life. Gen. Museveni put him in direct confrontation with the citizens,” he added.
He nonetheless urges for investigation surrounding the sudden death of such a high profile army man.
“I therefore join with the elders and leaders of Acholi sub-region as well as other concerned citizens of Uganda in their demand for an independent investigation in the cause of this death,” he said.