The Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura, has admitted to unease between him and Security Minister Lt. Gen Henry Tumukunde.
Kayihura told Parliament’s Committee on Defense and Internal Affairs that the said tension, fueled by inter-intelligence agencies’ rivalry is normal and poses no fundamental problem to national security.
“Yes, there may be tensions between us, but there is really no fundamental problem between us,” said Kayihura, in response to a question from MP Muhammad Kivumbi (DP, Butambala) regarding their reportedly tense relations.
Kayihura defended Police’s recent handing to the Internal Security Organization (ISO) a notorious city criminal known by an alias, Ssobi.
“We collaborate with agencies. We handed these people over to ISO because they (ISO) said they are conducting special intelligence operations,” said Kayihura.
Kayihura was part of a delegation headed by the State Minister of Internal Affairs, Mario Obiga Kania (NRM, Terego East), appearing before the House Committee considering the National Budget Framework Paper.
On claims by Kivumbi that the Police are engaged in mutual hostility against Rwanda, Minister Obiga said Uganda’s Foreign Policy is clearly against any such purported acts.
“I want to state categorically that the Foreign Policy of Uganda is very clear, our President [Yoweri Museveni] is not supporting any efforts to destabilize any country,” said Obiga.
Kayihura also deflected questions on an incident at a local bar where Tumukunde halted an eviction enforced by Police.
“In this particular incident, the police was doing its work but as to why the Minister intervened, ask him not me. Ask him why he intervenes in operations,” said Kayihura.
Minister Kania called for continued funding of Police projects and operations, saying the alternative to a strong Police force is creeping lawlessness and criminality.
“A country that hates its police must start loving its criminals. I want to appeal to this Committee to support the police’s effort to institutional growth,” said Obiga.
Earlier, Kivumbi challenged the Committee’s inquiry into the Budget Framework Paper, which he said was wrongly before Parliament and had to be cured by the afternoon Plenary.
Kivumbi said the tabling of the Budget Framework Paper was defective since it was not done in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act, which requires the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to present it together with a Certificate of Gender Compliance.
Committee Chairperson, Judith Nabakooba (NRM, Mityana), adjourned the meeting to consult with the Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah, who gave it a go ahead.
