Uganda’s deputy IGP Maj Gen Paul Lokech is dead

Maj. Gen. Paul Lokech
Maj. Gen. Paul Lokech, the Deputy Inspector General of Police

Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Paul Lokech nicknamed ‘the Lion of Mogadishu’ is dead.

”The IGP with deep sorrow regrets to announce the sudden demise of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Major General Paul Lokech. He passed on from his home this morning (Saturday 21, August 2021). A detailed statement on the cause of death and burial arrangements will be availed in due course,” Police said in a statement.

“UPDF fraternity regrets to announce the passing on of the Deputy Inspector General of Police Maj Gen Paul Lokech. More details to follow. May His Soul Rest In Eternal Peace,” the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) said in a statement.

What you should know about the late deputy IGP Maj Gen Paul Lokech

President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday 16, December 2020 dropped Maj Gen Stephen Muzeeyi Sabiiti from the position of deputy Inspector General of Police [IGP] replacing him with Maj Gen Paul Lokech.

Maj Gen Sabiiti was appointed to deputise Martin Okoth Ochola on March 4, 2018 when President Museveni sacked the then IGP Gen Edward Kale Kayihura and elevated Ochola who was his deputy to IGP.

Maj Gen Lokech was serving in South Sudan where he was deployed in November last year. Gen Lokech 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.

Maj Gen Lokech came into Uganda Police Force with a wealth of experience in leadership, administration and command. Lokech 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.’

President Museveni between 2017 to 2018 redeployed Lokech to Somalia still as UPDF contingent commander and when he returned, he promoted him to the rank of Maj General. He immediately posted him to Jinja to command the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre.

Gen Lokech till recently was 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.

Read Also: Lawyers seek apology from Gen Lokech over anti-Muslim statements

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.

The scuffle ensued near Club Agenda 2000 and the general lost his cool, slapping the female traffic commander. It took the intervention of Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander Moses Kafeero to solve the matter as ASP Kyobutungi threatened to sue the General.

Nevertheless, Maj Gen Lokech was in May this year on the spot for assaulting Kira Division traffic commander, Ruth Kyobutungi. Trouble started when ASP Kyobutungi stopped and reprimanded Lokech for driving on the road shoulder along Kireka-Kyaliwajjala road.