IGP Ochola public appearance dispels rumors of alleged illness. Several reports have been made in the media that the police chief was not fine and others suggested he was on oxygen, critically ill.
The reports suggested that Inspector General of Police, John Martins Okoth Ochola had never recovered after his blood pressure shot up at the news of his deputy, Lt Gen Paul Lokech’s death last month.
However, on Friday, Ochola spoke as the chief guest during the annual general meeting for the Police Directorate of Health Service held at Police headquarters in Naguru.
The directorate is charged with a mandate to oversee the Medico-legal services, Police health centers and doctors have been vital in examining suspects, injured persons, victims of Gender-Based Violence, and performing postmortems.
“Our friends from the media are also here but I won’t say much more than that,” Ochola said.
The statement has been interpreted by many as one meant to dispel the reports of his illness by availing himself for the public to see he is fine.
Ochola said that UPF Management is aware of the challenges faced in the execution of duties by the officers, and promised to continue putting in place measures to ensure that there is necessary protective equipment needed to perform the tasks, remain safe, and stay alive.
The IGP also revealed that the Uganda Police Force Management has embarked on capacity building of the Directorate of Health Services by targeting professional training, promotions, and recruitment of more health workers among others.
“As we move forward, the Police leadership has plans to recruit more health workers in this financial year, purchase more ambulances to improve on the current fleet, construction of a police general hospital at Nsambya barracks, and the establishment of a police clinic at every Police district or major police stations,” Ochola said
Speaking to journalists at the sidelines of the meeting, AIGP Moses Byaruhanga, the Police Director in charge of medical services insisted that the police chief is fine and carrying on well with his duties.
“Many people have been asking about the IGP but it seems they are used to the previous management style where the IGP (Kayihura) is in the field every time. Every person has their own management style. That is his style of not always being in the field,” AIGP Byaruhanga said.
He explained that the management style of the current police chief is one where he calls for meetings and gives instructions to directors and other commanders on what to do other than going himself to the field.
“Everyone has their own management style but even during the time of the previous IGP(Gen. Kayihura) some were asking why he was always in the field.”
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