Museveni promotes nine Police officers to second highest rank

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Museveni has promoted nine police officers to Senior Commissioner of Police(SCP), the second-highest rank in the force.

Those promoted are Martin Amoru, Ubaldo Bamunoba, Beata Chelimo, Dr John Kamya, Elias Kassirabo, Franklin Kugonza, Fenny Kyomukama, Bazil Mugisha and Venis Baguma Tumuhimbise.

All the promoted police officers have been at the rank of Commissioner of Police.

Previously SCP was the highest rank until the police adopted the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police –AIGP.

Dr Kamya is one of the police officers who have been missing from the promotions list including the one from last year. This often left his colleagues in the force questioning why he was not being promoted.

Kamya holds a Ph.D. and recently served as commandant of Bwebajja Command and Senior Staff College. He has served in the Uganda Police Force for close to thirty years. Raising ranks from heading a Police Station in Kasese.

Bazil Mugisha, who was the immediate successor of AIGP Dr Steven Kasiima, as acting director of traffic police has been promoted to SCP. This time Museveni has not promoted anyone to the rank of AIGP.

Last year, five SCPs were promoted to AIGP to replace many who had retired including AIGP Asan Kasingye, AIGP Edward Osire Ochom, AIGP Hajj Moses Balimwoyo, and AIGP Andrew Soroweni.

In total, Museveni has promoted 1,638 senior police officers. The category of a senior police officer starts at the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police(ASP). Museveni has elevated 400 Inspectors of Police –IP to ASP meaning they have joined the table of senior officers.

Others promoted include 17 Assistant Commissioners of Police –ACPs to CP. These include Enock Baine who in the 2021 presidential campaign used excessive force on supporters of Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine.

Baine and his juniors are accused of beating journalists including hitting the head of journalist Ashraf Kasirye in Lwengo district where he served as Greater Masaka regional police commander.

Anatoli Muleterwa who has been serving as commissioner of community policing, Jamal Basalirwa who is the head of protocol police unit, and Michael Mugabi former commandant of the police training school –Kabalye, Ben Mubangizi RPC KMP North are some of those promoted to CP rank which is the third highest.

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