KAMPALA, Uganda, Tenterhooks swept into action today afternoon when the main entrance gate at Jinja Road premised Logistics Directorate of the Uganda Police Force abruptly swung closed to visitors and general staff members.
The unexpected development was explained by the seniors as creating conducive means for handover of AIGP Godfrey Bangirana, the hitherto Director Logistics. Inside the premises was the Chief of Joint Staff of the Police Force, AIGP Bakashoma who, was at the place for none but enforce Bangirana’s ejection.
Bakashoma had earlier in the day called Bangirana reminding him of his impending total handover of the entire Directorate but the latter had tried giving him excuses, saying he was finalizing a few things. “It’s not a request Mr. Bangirana. It’s a directive. You must handover office at 2:00Pm today and I am waiting here for the same,” Bakashoma reportedly communicated to the hitherto feared senior officer.
The much eager for this long wait were the Departmental Heads who were reportedly more than ready to ease their boss of any hitches in packing his bags. “All their inventory reports were ready for him to hand over to his defacto replacement in SCP Richard Edyegu,” reported our inner source at the scene.
The departments whose inventories Bangirana had to hand over include that of Transport Officer, Classified Stores, Quarter Master, Inspector of Vehicles (IOV), and Estates among others. Most of the senior staff members were reported in cordial moods and some left in fear of showing it to Bangirana’s face how celebrant they were to his ejection; sources revealed.
Bangirana had supposedly bargained his all his way through the media, Court and Police Authority as there were high hopes that the latter would permit his wish for the contract renewal. Actually, some mainstream media outlets had reported of how top police officers wanted to drag him out of the way as they wanted to sell some police land, an allegation that rubbed IGP Okoth Ocholla the wrong way.
Indeed, in a Police Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting held a fortnight ago, in reference to the said reports, Ocholla complained of the intrigue that had even sieved its way into the media. “This has reached worrying levels. Is Mr. Bangirana still in office,” Ocholla reportedly asked, directing the question to the Chief of Joint Staff Bakashoma who, reported how Bangirana had asked for more time.
Shaking his head impatiently, Ocholla ordered that Bangirana should leave office on the following Wednesday. We can’t ignore a Court Order. That is impunity,” he’s quoted as having said. However, that was the eve of President Museveni’s visit at the Police Headquarters and Bakashoma never implemented the directive until on Wednesday this week when, some senior police officer reminded him of the pivotal assignment and hence, today’s ejection of the giant.
The Background
The journey to Bangirana’s loss to the battle started with a court case filed by Uganda Young Democratic members led by a one Isaak Maado the Administrative Secretary. The case of Bangirana’s illegal stay in office was before Lady Justice Esther Wolayo who at one time was accused by the complainants, of helping the police boss to continue abusing the law.
This was after Wolayo continuously skipped the hearing of an application that sought to have Bangirana temporarily leave office as court investigated how the under-fire senior police officer managed to accumulate wealth which is reportedly traced to trillions of money which is allocated to his docket.
The Judge’s consistence on skipping the hearing had been interpreted by the complainants as a calculated move intended to keep Bangirana in office as he maneuvered to have his expired contract renewed by his alleged god fathers in and outside the Uganda Police Authority.
It all started when Her Worship Wolayo had herself set aside November 24th 2019 to hear the application. But she caused a commotion by opting to reportedly go for a conference in Munyonyo instead, even after her presence at court where she had handled other cases in the morning. As if on cue, Bangirana himself did not turn up in court as mandatorily expected, hence sending a wrong signal.
“It is the Judge herself who fixed the hearing of the application. She instead chose to go for a conference. Her intention is to deny us the right to justice. But we shall not waver in our fight to rid the Uganda Police Force of Kawukuumi (rogue officers),” Maado had declared. Nevertheless, Court finally kowtowed to the complainants’ cries and released a Court Order in their favor, the same Ocholla finally insisted on its implementation.
Before Maado went to court, Parliament had handled Bangirana issue of accumulation of what MPS call illicit wealth and the one of overstaying in office. In one of the charges, Bangirana is accused of blowing billions of money on repairing a Police Chopper that was well enough to buy a brand new one.
The MPs recommended that the man be relieved of the job. Nevertheless, Bangirana kept holding on the job even when the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Okoth Ocholla was of the view that he should have left. It is heavily said that Bangirana had got godfathers in government who told him to ignore the calls to leave whatsoever.
While President Yoweri Museveni is on record vowing to rid Uganda Police of rogue characters, he only managed to swing the axe over the then Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura’s head, plus locking up a handful of his minders. That the President wasn’t raising a finger against Baingana amidst the public uproar regarding handling of police funds, had become a matter that baffled Ugandans.
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