Police has said that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martin Okoth Ochola is fully in charge of the Uganda Police Force and there is no power vacuum.
Police’s response comes after a local newspaper wrote an article highlighting that there is a power vacuum in police leadership following the demise of the former DIGP, Lt. Gen.Paul Lokech.
The article also reveals that in the absence of the Chief of Joint Staff, there is no clear structure of command and leadership among the other 7 Directors.
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga says as Police they strongly refute the story as they have never experienced a vacuum in security leadership.
“Under the Police Act, the IGP has general powers under section 6(3), to delegate any of his functions to the DIGP or a Senior Police Officer, as witnessed on a number of state functions and other duties,” says Enanga.
“The reporter also lacks knowledge on the fundamental aspects of seniority in rank. We wish to inform him that at a horizontal level of ranking, whether at the managerial level of Director, Deputy Director, Head of Department, Head of Section, or Territorial Command at Regional and District level; the Senior Most Officer at that horizontal level, takes command or leadership,” he adds.
He insists that the IGP is clearly in charge of the whole Police Organisation, and supported by a team of the Chief of Joint Staff and Directors, who are all well equipped to deliver on the delegated responsibilities of the IGP.