Commander in Chief of the Armed forces, President Yoweri Museveni has mourned the death of now former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj Gen Paul Lokech.
In his detailed euology, Museveni revealed that despite Major-General Lokech joining the Army in 1987, he has only worked with him closely on three occassions.
“On checking the records, I have found that, as a student at Comboni Secondary School, he had started supporting the Army in its operations by providing information about the Lakwena – LRA rebels and terrorists.
He trained at Kaweweta in the 1980s as an ordinary soldier, having started working with the Army as a volunteer in 1987. He was then, commissioned as 2nd Lt,” said Museveni.
He explained that he first worked closely with Gen Lokech in Gulu with the anti-LRA operations.
“I was informed that there was a Commander that routinely fought through LRA ambushes in the area between Atanga and Acholibur,” he said.
The second time was when Lokech was the Contingent Commander in Somalia.
“The UPDF, under his command, made a historic contribution to peace in Africa when they defeated Al-Shabaab in Mogadishu.
That is how Lokech, apparently, got the praise name (ekikubyo) of the ─ “Lion of Mogadishu”. I was not aware of that until after his death. However, what I was aware of was that Lokech was one of the good Commanders that had performed well in the battles against Al-Shabaab in Somalia,” he said.
The third time, was when he appointed him as Deputy Inspector General of Police. He explained that in a short time Lokech has positively changed Police.
“Whenever there are security threats, I always get involved directly. With Lokech, it was so easy because I found an eager student in this policing job, that was new to him. What is crucial is the attitude of care for the people and the country,” Museveni said.
For his great dedication to safeguard the country, Museveni disclosed that he has promoted him to the rank of Lieutenant – General.
“Given his exemplary contribution for the last 30years, I hereby, using the authority given to the President by Articles 98 and 99 of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda, promote Major General Paul Lokech, Posthumously, to the rank of Lieutenant – General,” he said.
Lokech succumbed to blood clot on Saturday, August 21 and today on August 27, he has been laid to rest at his ancestral home in Pader district.