The appointments committee of Parliament has approved a new term of office for Police Chief Gen Kale Kayihura together with that of his deputy Okoth Ochola with recommendations that they urgently address issues of torture, unlawful detention of suspects and freedom of assembly in the coming years.
Police brutality, unlawful detention and the reported torture of suspects under custody formed the basis of discussion as Gen. Kayihura appeared before the committee on Tuesday.
Clad in a navy blue collarless suit, Kayihura, appeared before parliament's appointments committee following the extension of his tenure at the helm of the Uganda Police Force. The tightly guarded session was chaired by Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga and attended by Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, Leader of Opposition Winnie Kiiza and the Clerk to Parliament Jane Kibirige, among other legislators.
Sources in the closed door meeting said that committee members put Kayihura to task to explain cases of brutality in which uniformed police officers are continuously seen beating up people in total disregard of the constitution.
The police chief was seen emphasizing his responses as he appeared before the committee, on the second floor of the south wing of parliament. Unlike some previous sessions, Kayihura's vetting session was not tense as some legislators were seen nodding and giggling.
The committee’s approval gives him the mandate until 2020.
Police last week came into spotlight when 13 suspects detained for the alleged murder of former police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi complained of torture while in the cells of Nalufenya Police Station. The suspects told the Nakawa Magistrates Court that they were starved and physically harmed during their detention at the facility in Jinja district.
But Kayihura told journalists moments after his appearance before the committee that legislators raised pertinent questions on the performance of the Uganda police force. Kayihura hinges on a 2015 report by the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) to say that police has greatly improved over the years. He however acknowledged incidences of brutality and violations.
Gen. Kale Kayihura apologized to Members of Parliament over the holding of 12 children by police in connection to the murder of AIGP Felix Kaweesi.
He however declined to unveil his plans for the new term, saying that this would be presumptuous. But he hastens to add that he has over the years concentrated his effort on improving the image of the Uganda Police Force, capacity building of officers to fight terrorism, murder and theft, among other crimes.
Prior to the interview, Kayihura spent more than 30 minutes going through various offices, in what was seen as a tactic to evade the waiting journalists. He however said he needed time to cool off after the appointments committee session.
