By Andrew Irumba
Kampala: The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martin Okoth Ochola has issued a directive to vacate Police Chief and head of procurement AIGP Bangirana Godfrey from office following the expiry of his two year contract.
According to the IGP letter dated 19 July, Bangirana who had applied for another term was requested to vacate office today 22 July handing over office to SCP Edwegu Richard who is one of the Deputy Directors in the directorate.
Earlier this year, the whistleblower petitioned the speaker of parliament to issue orders to relevant offices and authorities to compel AIGP Bangirana from office after the Inspector General of Government (IGG) failed to investigate fully all allegations against him.
According to a whistleblower’s report dated 13 Feb 2019, Police Chief Bangirana was accused of theft and misappropriation of police funds resulting into accumulation of his wealth portfolio to a tune of over Shs200Bn in form of land, money on accounts and properties in Uganda, Nairobi, Dubai and South Africa.
Bangirana was cited in police frauds among others;
Accumulating a police debt of over Shs100Bn after failing to pay suppliers
Alleged to have been in the Police fuel scam that benefitted MPS and many civilians linked to police where the institution lost Shs600Bn
Alleged to have inflated the cost purchase of World War II Police motorcycles leading to a loss of Shs5Bn
Alleged to have inflated the cost purchase of Junk Police helicopters and inflating the cost of their repairs causing a loss of over 20Bn
He was also alleged to have inflated the construction of Natete Police construction to Shs100Bn
He was also cited in the inflation of buying Katumba Birungi’s school in Wakiso to police senior staff and Command College in Bwebajja plus diverting all money to his personal accounts without paying remaining balance to property owners.
Lastly, he was alleged to have been involved in gross procurement flaws which among others; selective payment of suppliers, diversion of police funds to companies owned by himself friends and relatives.
The whistleblower’s petition wanted the Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga to among others direct the Auditor General institute a special Audit to the Uganda police procurement department, publish an update of the audit findings and lastly cause for the interdiction of AIGP Godfrey Bangirana while the audit and investigations are being carried out.
