By Peter Bwengye,
KAMPALA:
Former presidential candidate and president for the National Unit Platform (NUP), Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine has said that the government spoiled the good military record of Maj Gen Lokech at the last hour.
Kyagulanyi made the remarks in a long social media post eulogizing the deputy IGP Maj Gen Paul Lokech who passed on Saturday at his home in Buwate Wakiso district.
“It is therefore very unfortunate that Maj Gen Lokech who was by all accounts a fine solidies had his good record spoiled by the regime just in the last eight months of his life. Museveni put him in direct confrontation with the public,” Kyagulanyi said.
He was referring to the aftermaths of the November riots in Kampala, a period inwhich Gen Lokech was appointed AIGP replacing Maj Gen Sabiiti Muzeei.
In his post, Kyagulanyi referred to the appointment of Gen Lokech a plan to block opposition activities particularly NUP party from freely exercising their political rights.
“Eight months ago, Gen Lokech who many Ugandans did not know was, deployed as Deputy Inspector General of Police. This was shortly after the November bloodbath, where the miltary and police with reckless abandon murdered hundreds of citizens.”
“Gen Museveni, afraid to his skin of an impending election defeat, and well aware of the kind of rigging he was planning to do, he decided to deploy Gen Paul Lokech to stop any attempt of the people of Uganda to rise up and reclaim their democratic rights. Then shortly after, another former commander of Ugandan contigent in Somalia, Maj Gen Kayanja Muhanga was deployed as overall head of operations in Kampala. Gen Museveni boasted that he had deployed commandos from Somalia to neutralize situation in Kampala.” Kyagulanyi said before recounting arbitrary arrests, abductions and illegal long detentions without trial of his supporters, his post January elections house arrest and murder of suspects of Gen Katumba attempted murder, a case which the deceased was investigating.
Nevertheless, Kyagulanyi has described Gen. Lokech as a gallant, courageous and fine solidier who commanded at the frontline of his command forces, with a distinguished military career that many younger officers were eager to emulate.
He further asked for an independent invesigations into the cause of Gen. Lokech’s death.
“Obviously, I join many Ugandans in raising questions about the manner of death of very many prominent persons in these past few years,”
“…I now join the elders and leaders of Acholi sub region as well as all concerned citizens of Uganda in their demand for qn independent investigation in the cause of this death.” he said.
Yesterday, the IGP Martin Okoth Ochola disclosed that he had directed the director of police health services, Dr Moses Byaruhanga to investigate the actual cause of Maj Gen Lokeck death.
Moments later, the UPDF Spokesperson, Brig Gen Flavia Byekwaso told reports that the four star General died of suspected blood clotting, but Kyagulanyi and other members of the public are demanding for an independent investigation.
Kyagulanyi has further appealed to officers in updf and police to consider consenquences of their actions before making any decisions.
“Before you make any decision to end another person’s life, or to cause any extreme pain on any innocent citizen, always remember that we are all human beings made of flesh and blood. One day we shall all be gone and what will remain is the memory of the works we did.” Kyagulanyi appealed.
