Uganda Police Force has issued a statement discrediting media reports that the Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura has been appointed as Uganda representative to the United Nations (UN).
In a brief statement authored by the newly appointed Police Spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi, he said; “Today, August 27, various social media platforms carried information that the Inspector General of Police, General Kale Kayihura has been appointed Uganda’s permanent representative to United Nations.”
“The reports also allege that Brig. Leopold Kyanda has been promoted to Maj. Gen and appointed the IGP,” the statement further read.
“The Uganda Police Force would like to clarify that this information is not true and is aimed at creating unnecessary tension and unrest. We request the general public to disregard such reports with contempt it deserves.”
Statement issued Saturday by Police spokesperson AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi
These speculations come out at a time when the the head of Police has been criticized by opposition elements, civil society and sections of the public for the incidents of brutality by police against the public.
This outrage stems from July 13 when police officers besieged boda boda riders in Najjanankumbi who were accompanying key opposition figure Kizza Besigye and randomly beat them up with sticks.
Gen. Kayihura would later defend and applauded the police officers at a news conference for the beatings saying they were preventing the crowds from stampeding the busy Kampala-Entebbe highway.
weeks after, a group of private lawyers opened a case against the IGP along with eight other police officers for torture contrary to sections 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act, 2012.