By Watera,
KAMPALA:
Latest reports coming in indicate that the deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj General Paul Lokech has passed on.
Maj Gen Paul Lokech, popularly known as ‘the Lion of Mogadishu’ was appointed the deputy IGP in December 2020, replacing Maj Gen Sabiiti Mzeei.
He is eminently celebrated for his role to bring peace in Somalia against the Al-Shabab terrorists who had caused instabilities in the country, thus the name; “the Lion of Mogadishu.”
There are no prior reports indicating known illnesses of the Deputy IGP but Parrots UG learned that he has not appeared in the public for the last few months.
The Life of Maj Gen Paul Lokech.
Before being appointed the deputg IGP, Maj Gen Lokech was serving in South Sudan where he was deployed in November 2019. He was sent to South Sudan to monitor on behalf of the guarantors the South Sudan peace process, the assembling, screening, demobilization and integration of the armed forces of South Sudan.
He is one of the commanders credited for breaking the back of Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia when he was commander of UPDF contingent between 2011 and 2012.
Because of his relentless confrontation with Al-Shabaab insurgents and capturing key historical places like the Red Mosque in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, the then Brigadier Lokech was nicknamed the ‘Lion of Mogadishu’.
Gen Lokech also served as Chief of Staff of Uganda People’s Defence Air Force –UPDAF.
He previously served as part of the commanders of Uganda’s peace-keeping forces in South Sudan.
The two-star General was part and parcel of Operation Safe Haven where UPDF extremely went offensive on rebels of Allied Democratic Front-ADF who were being commanded by now incarcerated Jamil Mukulu. The ADF was still based in the Democratic Republic of Congo- DRC.
Maj Gen Lokech also commanded UPDF Second Division which is based in Mbarara at Makenke barracks. Other places where Maj Gen Lokech was deployed include Russia where he was Uganda’s Defence Attaché.
In May 2020, Maj Gen Lokech was on the spot for assaulting Kira Division traffic commander, Ruth Kyobutungi, who stopped and reprimanded him for driving on the roadside along Kireka-Kyaliwajjala road near Club Agenda 2000.
Maj Gen Lokech emotions started running high and slapped the female traffic commander.
But the matter was soon resolved by the intervention of Kampala Metropolitan police commander Moses Kafeero.
By the time of compiling this report, no details about Maj Gen Lokech’s death had been released. Our reporters are yet to confirm and further details will be reported in our subsequent reports.
