I work on orders from Museveni, says Kayihura

The Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, has defended his actions saying they are orders from President Museveni, revealing the latest directive is to boost police’s martial hardware and weaponry.

Presiding over the handover of motorcycles to crime preventers in Ntungamo District on Wednesday, Gen Kayihura revealed his job would be on the line if he acted contrary to Mr Museveni’s orders. “For us we are small people; agents. I work on order; the commander-in-chief’s order,” he said.

Driving from a war analogy, Gen Kayihura said: “When you are going to war, the commander-in-chief gives you instruments of war. He gave me an order.... Do I have a choice? If I don’t do this, he dismisses me, and, off course, I like my job.”

The police chief has since pitched camp in Ntungamo following chaos that erupted between supporters of NRM presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni and those of Independent presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi on Sunday. Defending what critics have called militarising the Police Force, the IGP was unapologetic, insisting the law gives him leeway.

“The Police Act says the minister can at any time announce that police has become a military force, it’s in the law. Those who have been saying Kayihura is militarising police, it’s in the law,” he said, adding, “This is just the beginning, have you not seen the plane in the air, I found police with SAR (semi-automatic riffles), now they have SMGs (sub-machine guns), they now have anti-air craft machine guns 0.7, I am now going to buy them Saba Saba (cannons), why not? This is an order from the President.”

City lawyer Peter Walubiri said: “He is actually insulting the name of the President to justify his illegal activities. I am sure when the day for trial of Mr Museveni comes, he will say Gen Kayihura could have acted within the law not on his orders.”
“He should base on the Constitution and the Police Act not the President’s orders. Recruiting crime preventers, for instance, is not based on any law. I hope as a lawyer he is aware he is not obligated to follow illegal directives.”