Former Inspector General of Police, Gen (Rtd) Kale Kayihura, has announced that he will not pursue a career in elective politics but will instead focus on farming in his retirement from the army. Gen Kayihura made this declaration during a homecoming event held at Saaza Grounds in Kisoro Municipality over the weekend, celebrating his retirement from the military.
"I am not interested in elective politics. I fear elective politics, even at the LC1 level. I have a lot of things to do in my retirement, especially in the field of farming." Kayihura said while addressing speculations that he might seek the Bufumbira East parliamentary seat in Kisoro District
His retirement from the army followed his acquittal on charges of illegal repatriation of Rwandan refugees and failure to protect war materials in the court martial. Gen Kayihura dismissed these cases as being trumped up against him and expressed gratitude for President Museveni's support in seeking the truth.
"I am grateful that President Museveni does not act on rumors and lies but takes his time to investigate. By the time my issues ended, he was already aware of the truth that I had no case to answer. It is not true that I was pardoned; the fact is I had no case to answer," Gen Kayihura affirmed.
He also acknowledged the support of various individuals during his trial, including Kisoro District Chairperson Abel Bizimana, Gen Andrew Gutti, Gen Wilson Mbadi, Gen David Muhoozi, Maj Gen James Mugira, Maj Gen Sam Kavuma, and his legal team.
Gen Kayihura expressed his commitment to remaining a proud retired military officer until his passing. During the event, ecumenical prayers were led by religious leaders, and Gen Kayihura's release from the court martial was hailed as a sign of God's grace. Former lawmakers and district leaders urged him to collaborate in promoting development initiatives in Kisoro and advocated for the fulfillment of presidential pledges related to infrastructure projects in the region.
While Gen Kayihura's decision to eschew elective politics marks a significant shift in his post-military career plans, it underscores his intention to contribute to Uganda's agricultural sector during his retirement.
