By Assan Kasingye
On the day you took over officer as IGP, that Friday, I was graduating at Makerere University with a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration & Management. When my name was read, there was an uproar from the congregation & I saw the outgoing IGP John Kisembo saying something to you.
Your tour of duty in Police in 2001 found me at the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP). On your first day in office, the following Monday, you appointed me to the office of head of Community Affairs as an Ag head of Community Affairs department following the interdiction of my boss who had been affected by the Sebutinde Commission.
You left your desk & sat in the visitors sofa where I was seated. You told me that you watched me from far & heard all my radio programs on CBS radio with Mulindwa Muwonge. You told me that you had a lot of hope in me as a young man & asked me to intensify & deepen community policing as a way of preventing crime. I took the job with the seriousness it deserved.
Many times, you appeared with me on same TV/radio interviews. We also traveled together to address public meetings. Whenever you wanted anything done quickly at HQ, I was your first point of call. I wrote most of your speeches & one time told the university at Nkumba to invite me & talk to your Political Science class.
You had a lot of trust in me intellectually. One day, you summoned me to your office & I found Bishop Kawuma of Namirembe Diocese who had wanted to recruit a police officer to be trained as a Reverend at Bishop Turker Mukono. You said the most beautiful words about me that no IGP has ever said.
From that day, you started calling me son. In the same week, you summoned me to your office. I saw both my confidential & open files lying on your desk. You asked me serious personal questions about my family, business, health etc. You gave me very good advice. I will never forget what you told me if I was going to be a good officer & serve my country well.
You said that the family, my health & what I was doing outside my office were the most important things in my public service life. The following year in 2002, I was promoted to the rank of Senior Superintendent of Polixe(SSP). In 2004, I was appointed on promotion to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police(ACP). The following year in 2005, I was yet again promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police(CP). I put on my rank exactly on the day you handed over office to Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura.
Contrary to what people say that I earned all my ranks under your successor, I actually earned 3 promotions in the 4 years you served as IGP. Gen. Kale recommended me for the rank of AIGP in 2009 the rank I retired on. You trusted me with management of Police FC & the office for chairman Police Council Appeals Court. I handed over those offices on the day I retired in 2022. This was a sign that you knew my strengths so well. We continued to work together even when you were CDF.
You were always calling me to find out how I was doing when I was Director of INTERPOL & CPC. When I was in the process of publishing my book Chosen, you offered to write the Foreword. I cherish every single word you chose & wrote. I will always remain indebted to your counsel, command, mentorship & advice. I looked up to you in whatever you did till today.
You trusted me, I didn’t let you down even in a single instance. The legacy you left in my life is cemented with the strongest concrete in the world. You’ve retired a proud officer, a visionary leader, a Pan Africanist, a patriot, a commander, a mentor & a father.
I wish you a good retirement from the army & success in the service of this country as a Minister. My family & I will always remember you for my life & service to the nation. I don’t have what to give you. Only this tribute. May God continue to bless you & family my commander@GenWamala-Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
