President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who also serves as the Commander-in-Chief (CIC), on Tuesday night ordered the Inspector General of Police, Abbas Byakagaba, to sack all the top police leaders of the Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP). This decision followed intelligence reports indicating that crime levels had risen significantly in the city and surrounding areas, Spyreports has learned.
According to security sources, the decision came after the President met with top security chiefs at State House Entebbe. Those sacked include the Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander, Mr. Richard Ecega, his deputy, ACP Gerald Twishimye, the head of KMP Crime Intelligence, SSP Ben Kasozi, and the Old Kampala DPC, Francis Liiga.
An insider revealed that a senior security official told the President that crime had increased in Kampala due to a lack of coordination and poor information sharing among police commanders. “Your Excellency, the reason why crime has increased in Kampala is simply because top police commanders don’t share information. Each one has his own boss to report to, and this has affected their operations in responding to crime,” the source reportedly said.
Another source explained that crime tends to spike during the Christmas season and elections because commanders fail to share intelligence. “The DPC of Old Kampala at one time received intelligence about a robbery but failed to share it with his superiors to get support. He tried to handle it alone, failed, billions were lost, and in the end, the police were blamed,” the source said.
Additionally, the President was informed that the police had failed to collaborate effectively with other security agencies such as the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI). “We used to have teamwork among security agencies to conduct joint operations, but these days the police work alone. They don’t share intelligence with us, and this has led to increased crime in the city,” an ISO source reportedly told the President.
Sources also said that some firearms used in recent robberies were traced back to police, and certain officers were implicated in criminal activities, further angering the President.
By the end of the meeting, the President had reportedly grown frustrated with KMP leadership and instructed the IGP to sack all top commanders immediately. According to police sources, more Regional Police Commanders (RPCs) and District Police Commanders (DPCs) are expected to be dismissed in the coming days.
