By Spy Uganda
Kampala: The outgoing Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martins Okoth- Ochola has handed over office to his deputy Maj Gen Geoffrey Tumusiime Katsigazi, following the end of his six-year contract.
This has been confirmed by police spokesperson Fred Enanga saying the Deputy IGP Katsigazi will serve in the acting capacity until the appointment of a new IGP.
“We wish to inform the public that the outgoing IGP handed over the office to the Deputy Inspector of Police Major General Tumusiime Katsigazi who is the receiving officer pending the appointment of the inspector general of police,” Enanga said while addressing the media on Monday.
Speaking during the handover, Martin Okoth Ochola, commended his team, other various directorates, officers across all ranks for their dedication in the success of the force.
”The numerous achievements spelt out in my handover report and by the various Directorates, were made possible working with a wonderful team and dedicated officers, across all ranks, who gave their best in ensuring that the Institution succeeded in fulfilling its constitutional mandate” he noted.
Ochola was born on 19 September 1958, in Agumiti Village, Mulanda sub-county, West Budama County, in Tororo District.
He attended Abweli Primary School, then Rock View Primary School and Kisoko Boys Primary School, where he sat his Primary Leaving Examinations. He attended Namilyango College for his high school education.
Later, he joined Makerere University where he graduated with a Bachelors degree in Law in 1983. The following year, he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, from the Law Development Centre.
He went into private law practice, working as a legal assistant between October and December 1984, at the law firm of Owori and Company Advocates in Mbale Town. He then relocated to Kampala, where he worked as a legal assistant in Kampala City Council for three years.
Ochola joined Uganda Police in January 1988 and started a nine-month basic training. At that time, he was given the rank of a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police. Following that training, in February 1989, he was posted to Entebbe International Airport as the officer-in-charge of Airport Security.
From there, he served at Entebbe Police Station, Buganda Road Court, where he remained for three years. He was then posted to police headquarters as the acting assistant commissioner of police in the legal department. He was promoted to superintendent of police and later to senior superintendent of police.
In May 2001, he was appointed the deputy director of criminal investigations and remained in that position for seven years. In 2008, he was promoted to commissioner of police. That same year, he was confirmed as director CID. In 2009, he was promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police.
In August 2011, President Yoweri Museveni appointed him the Deputy Inspector General of Police. He served as the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP), deputizing Gen. Kayihura until 4 March 2018, when he replaced him as the new IGP.
When the first three-year contract expired in March 2021, President Museveni extended it for another three year term which expires today March, 4, 2024.
