Former Inspector General of Police, General Kale Kayihura, is among ten generals scheduled to retire from the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) this month. Despite facing charges at the General Court Martial, the UPDF has confirmed his retirement alongside other senior military officers.
The charges against Kayihura include failure to protect war materials, failure to supervise police officers, and abetting kidnapping. He has been on bail since 2020. Sources suggest that the President, Yoweri Museveni, met with the General Court Martial to discuss the charges against Kayihura, fueling speculation that they may be dropped to facilitate his retirement.
UPDF Deputy Spokesperson, Col. Deo Akiiki, confirmed that Gen. Kayihura would be retiring this month. He wished Kayihura well in his retirement and acknowledged his mentorship to the remaining active service members.
As a four-star General, Kayihura holds the highest rank among the retiring officers. The list also includes Major Generals Wasswa Mutesaasira and Joseph Arocha, two ranks below Kayihura, and Brigadiers Steven Oluka, Augustine Atwooki, and others, three ranks below the former IGP.
Kayihura was removed from the position of Inspector General of Police in March 2018 after serving for over 12 years. He was replaced by Martin Okoth Ochola. In June of the same year, he was arrested and detained by the UPDF in an operation led by then Deputy Chief of Defense Forces, Wilson Mbadi.
During his tenure as IGP, Kayihura proposed extending the detention period for suspects involved in capital offenses. Following his arrest by the army, he was held at Military Police headquarters in Makindye for 76 days without trial. He was subsequently arraigned in the Court Martial and charged with three counts, including failure to protect war materials and aiding and abetting kidnapping.
While the details of the meeting between President Museveni and the General Court Martial remain undisclosed, it is believed that Kayihura's charges may be dropped before his retirement. However, until the charges are formally dropped and he receives clearance from the military court, Kayihura will still be considered a suspect under trial even in retirement.
Despite the controversies surrounding Kayihura, he is credited with transforming the police force in terms of personnel, training, infrastructure, and equipment. He oversaw an increase in the police force from 14,000 to 46,000 personnel and played a key role in the establishment of structures, such as the forensic directorate and regional police offices. Kayihura also initiated the installation of CCTV cameras and the construction of police housing units.
If the retirement process proceeds as expected, Kayihura is set to receive a significant retirement package, including his salary for the past five years. The recent increase in a General's salary to 15 million shillings has further contributed to the financial benefits he will receive. Retirement packages for Brigadiers and Major Generals have previously included sums of 400 to 600 million shillings and a house worth 200 million shillings.
As Gen. Kayihura approaches his retirement, his legacy in the police force and the outcome of his ongoing legal proceedings will continue to be topics of interest and discussion.
