Is Kaweesi the NRM’s Amama Mbabazi in Police? Details How Gen. Kale Kayihura has groomed Kaweesi into a Museveni’s ‘Amama Mbabazi’ in the Uganda Police Force… That President Museveni is the mentor of most current leaders and politicians both in opposition and his ruling NRM Party, is an understatement. And that police boss Gen. Edward Kale Kayihura aka KK is his best student, is a wasted observation. For starters, Kayihura’s style of leadership is a photocopy of his Master, the President and Commander in Chief, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni ‘Ssabarwanyi.’ His ‘divide and rule’ knack qualifies via the latest incident in Luweero where, he is claimed to send two envoys in John Patrick Amama Mbabazi aka JPAM and his sworn ‘foe’ Abdul Nadduli at the same function, with same message. We shall get to that later. Last night, Police Operations Director, AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi was on a local television, struggling to explain issues to do with utter crime intelligence and investigations section which too, has an officer at his rank, AIGP Grace Akullo. In police’s expected protocol, Kaweesi’s place in studios would be occupied by Gen. Kale Kayihura himself, Grace Akullo, the case I.O (Investigations officer) in the particular matter at the centre (Kasiwuukira’s murder) who is SCP Geoffrey Musana and/or, most appropriately, the police spokesperson CP Fred Enanga. But this was Kaweesi, the operations director who, perhaps, could have been ‘inappropriately’ delegated by Gen. Kayihura. According to the police website (upf.co.ug), the Operations Directorate is headed by an Assistant Inspector General of the Police, who is assisted by three commissioners. The role of the Directorate is to plan, implement, manage and coordinate all operational activities in the Uganda Police Force. These efforts are demonstrated by the Department of Traffic and Road Safety. It could therefore take a fresh starter to require education on what Kaweesi do, for this is a slot that has been occupied before. And that of CIID is to ensure effective detection, investigation and prevention of crime. Like Museveni’s Mbabazi, like Kayihura’s Kaweesi At one time, pissed Hon. Sam Kuteesa reportedly asked President Museveni; “Ahabwenkyi notukomako akashija ako,” loosely meaning, “why do you impose that man onto us,” and this was in reference to then super minister Amama Mbabazi. Kuteesa was surprised with Museveni’s ready answer thus; “he doesn’t drink, not a womaniser and hence [HIV] negative.” Superior powers Like Kuteesa, many people wondered why whatever ministry Mbabazi heads become so special! And the man himself was so special that in in 2004, he attained the tag of a “super minister” when he simultaneously headed three ministerial portfolios of Defence, Foreign Affairs and Attorney General. Until when he replaced Prof. Apollo Nsibambi as Prime Minister, the OPM was yet to become a household name. Like Museveni’s Mbabazi, Kayihura’s Kaweesi enjoys a special status that every directorate he heads becomes special. Until he replaced AIGP Andrew Sorowen at Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) at CPS, the latter was an ‘ordinary’ commandant whose operations, whenever situation demanded, were distantly guided by the Operations boss at the time, AIGP Grace Turyagumanawe. Before KMP, Kaweesi was the Kabalye Police Training School head. And until he left the facility, irrespective of the meticulous works done by his successor CP Kafeero Moses, gone are the days when Kabalye Commandant formed part of ‘big’ meetings at Kampala headquarters. Hardly his transfer information sieved down people’s minds, KMP summersaulted into a dormant motion. And out of nowhere, Turyagumanawe’s hitherto silent-burner Operations Directorate has turned into the mother and caretaker of all other Directorates, thanks to the new Commander in Andrew Felix Kaweesi. King maker status During his time at the helm, Mbabazi is believed to have determined who to command Museveni’s trust, respect and favour, as well as attracting ministerial and other presidential appointment slots. To the knowledgeable, it is out of this power-wielding status that former VP Gilbert Baalibaseka Bukenya lost President Museveni’s trust. In today’s police, for one to attract Kayihura’s trust and confidence, you must be so good to Kaweesi. Several a police officers, and most worryingly senior to him, who have turned serious foes to the man from Masaka. Gen. Kayihura has himself wondered why people hardly believe Kaweesi is not his blood brother. In late 2008, the parliamentary probe into the irregular purchase of 435 acres of land by the National Social Security Fund in Temangalo went into serious business. At one time, they went directly to the source of the conflict by quizzing the then Security Minister Amama Mbabazi over his role in the deal. NSSF purchased the land belonging to Amama Mbabazi and his friend and business partner, Hot Loaf Bakery proprietor, Amos Nzeyi at reportedly, an inflated price. Assessments conducted by three independent valuers indicated that Mbabazi and Nzeyi sold the land at 60 to 80% above the market price. Seeing Mbabazi had been cornered and it wouldn’t take long without being floored, Museveni took the cow by its horns himself. He declared Mbabazi as the cleanest human creature he had ever come across. The fountain of honour’s selfless intervention into the matter eventually led to the ‘eternal’ rest of the case. But Mbabazi’s hunters were not done. In late 2011, the youth MP Gerald Karuhanga led others to level against the then Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, accusations regarding to the renowned oil Bribery Scandal. Though Mbabazi severally denied the same, saying the bribery allegations labelled against him and two senior ministers are fabricated, it took President Museveni’s pragmatic efforts to clean his blue-eyed lad. Close to two years ago, a one Siyambonga alleged in an affidavit filed at Buganda Road Court that he had entered Uganda through Entebbe Airport, but Kaweesi took his two million Euros upon his arrest. IGP Kale Kayihura ordered the police standards unit – PSU to investigate Kaweesi. Then Commandant PSU, Samuel Kyomukama addressed a press. In a bid to try and save Kaweesi from embarrassment, police had established that Aziz Bernard alias Siyambonga isn’t an Ivorian national but a Ugandan whose true names are Paul Simwogerere as per the records at Tororo Prison, where he was remanded under file Number TC 319/2010! Currently, Kaweesi’s name has been dragged in a criminal case, and of a grave nature. “Kaweesi is prepared to use his position to prevent the investigation from going ahead; pieces were starting to come together. Intelligence information obtained from one of the suspects, who confided in a prison officer that his group had been assigned to…,” case papers before the British High Commissioner in London reads in part. And the complainant maintains that Gen. Kayihura has also turned into a stumbling block in the case. The inevitable foes creation President Museveni’s immeasurable protection of Mbabazi and his agenda have garnered the latter, innumerable foes. Apart from the obvious ones mentioned earlier, the bush war fellas like Kahinda Otafiire and renowned others have their own positions against the man Mbabazi. At police, Kaweesi is enjoying a bout of foes who include among others, the country’s traffic operations boss Norman Musinga, Flying squad’s Herman Owomugisha whom he (Kaweesi), thanks to his known hunger for publicity, had even blocked from talking to media during his (Kaweesi) era at KMP, his replacement at Kabalye Moses Kafeero, former CIID boss Edward Ochom and the well-known Grace Turyagumanawe, to mention but a very few. But unlike in Mbabazi’s case where President Museveni has, for years made several changes in his (Mbabazi) favour, most of anti-Kaweesi Cops are still pragmatic and deliverers. He has to put with them or they learn to put with him. Whereas a political storm surrounds the person of Amama Mbabazi, stemming from his alleged presidency ambitions, the man from Kanungu has ‘disturbingly’ remained still, just like a mahogany tree in a stormy environment. As the public and media speculate on his next move, another school of thought believe it’s not an innocent mum. This section of thought believes President Museveni and Mbabazi must have agreed on the presidency agenda at one time. But the timing of JPAM’s people and relatives could have led the situation to a near kaput, as the family on the other end did not buy the idea. Whether the duo agrees to mend the situation, convince their families and revamp their roadmap, remains between them. Within and outside police corridors, it is a loud whisper that Kaweesi is known to be next Police boss, after Kayihura. This, knowledgeable sources say, will come slightly after he takes over from the Deputy IGP Okoth Ochola whose term was extended for only two years. Like in Mbabazi-Museveni case, Kayihura is feared to have tipped his blue-eyed lad about the replacement deal. Whether his continued involvement into other Directorates’ affairs in such for media clout won’t spoil the plot, remains a mystery. Lest we forget That Gen. Kayihura is the unsung potential political replacements of Mbabazi is another story, for another day. Watch this space… investigator.co.ug/politics/4105-is-kaweesi-the-nrm’s-amama-mbabazi-in-police.html
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 15:18:23 +0000