President Yoweri Museveni last week promoted Late Major Gen. Paul Lokech to the rank of Lieutenant General (Lt. Gen) posthumously.
The announcement of the promotion was made in condolence message of the President delivered by the Minister for Internal Affairs, Hon. Kahinda Otafire.
The late Lokech was buried at his ancestral home in Paipir, Pader District on Friday, 27 August 2021.
The President noted that the late Lokech was good at his job.
“His exemplary contribution for the last 30 years, and given the fact that he had completed all the leadership courses in South Africa; and did not have any corruption report on his file, I promote Major Gen. Paul Lokech posthumously to the rank of Lt. Gen,” the message read in part.
Otafiire also eulogized the late Lokech as a gallant son of Acholi and said that he was indeed an exemplary, unique and gifted man.
“Since I became the Minister for Internal Affairs, Lokech never came to my office but to my home to present matters of the police without notes or a file. He would scan the whole country like a vulture, everything was in his head,” Otafiire said. He added that, ’I am now wondering how we shall retrieve all the details, since he has gone with them. I shall miss him’.
Oulanyah lays a wreath on the casket containing the body of the late Lokech
The Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah said that death is very painful but surrendering to God is the only option.
“As much as he has gone too soon, go with the blessings of the Lord. Fellow mourners, we should not lose our faith but trust in God and surrender everything to him. I make this call to his children that you should stay focused and continue his great legacy,” Oulanyah said.
Gen. Salim Saleh also praised Lokech saying that wherever he went, he made sure that there was reform.
“Lokech was not only a warrior but also had a lot of insight and was a great thinker which led him to be part of the Defence Review Commission.,” Salim Saleh said.
The Minister for State for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi said Lokech has left brand and urged his children to live it up it.
He added that Lokech did his job of improving the police and left behind a peaceful country.
“Lokech had many sides; the man, peacemaker and officer. There is no struggle where heroes fall, so was Paul Lokech. He was tall with tall attributes. There was this bare-knuckles but also the humorous and shy side of Paul,” said Muhoozi.
Former Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Henry Luke Orombi said it was important to have faith and be ready when death knocks on the door.
” When it is time for you to go, we cannot ask for more time and so we need to be ready when that time comes. Let us rest knowing that the Lion of Mogadishu went to meet with the Lion of Judah,” Orombi said.
Former President of Somalia, H.E Hassan Sherik Mohamud, Ministers and Members of Parliament from various regions as well as a military delegation from Somalia attended the burial.
