Byakagaba replaces Ochola as the new Uganda Police boss

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has appointed former Director of Counter Terrorism at Uganda Police Force, Abbas Byakagaba, as the new Inspector General of Police.

Byakagaba replaces Martin Okoth-Ochola whose term expired earlier this year and will be deputised by Assistant Inspector General of Police James Ochaya, who replaces Maj Gen Geoffrey Tumusiime Katsigazi.

Gen Katsigazi is likely to be redeployed in the UPDF.

“I confirm that H.E. the President and Commander in Chief of the UPDF has today appointed Mr Abbas Byakagaba as the new Inspector General of Police replacing IGP Martin Okoth Ochola,” Mr Faruk Kirunda, deputy presidential spokesperson, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday evening.

“Other changes have been effected in the Uganda Police Force.”

The new IGP, Byakagaba, retired from the police force in March at the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police. He handed over to SCP Frank Mwesigwa.

As the director for Counter terrorism Unit (CTU), Byakagaba has been part of the operations targeting ADF terrorist cells in several parts of the country and the arrest of suspects involved in these criminal activities.

Byakagaba is also among the few police directors with specialized training and his specialty is in counter terrorism from the US, which gives him edge over others due to the experience and knowledge acquired over many years in the field.