Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, has said that four time presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye has been his biggest nightmare, giving him sleepless nights during his 12 year tenure at the helm of the police.
Gen Kayihura who was responding to a question on police brutality, the police chief said that had it not been Dr Besigye and his friend; Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, the public order management act should be enough to manage public order. The IGP was speaking to selected journalists in Masindi at the weekend.
Gen Kayihura who pointed to several issues in the country including boda boda conflicts and murder of Muslim clerics said Besigye and Lukwago have forced his officers to unleash force on Ugandans.
“There have been several violent scenes like the Muslim and boda boda conflicts that could have caused blood bath. However our biggest challenge as police was political situation especially Dr Besigye and Lukwago. They have been a problem since 2006 but we have managed them,” Gen Kayihura said.
Handing Muslims
Gen Kayihura thanked President Museveni for intervening in Muslim conflicts by allowing Old Kampala Muslim faction has the Mufti and Supreme Mufti at Kibuli.
“Our engagements for demonstrations and protest have worked out. For instance we engaged Muslim community who wanted to protest on the streets and there could have been blood bath. The matter was sorted and they are now at peace. I thank the president for championing the talks,” Gen Kayihura said.
Not happy with media
Gen Kayihura expressed disappointment with the media which he said has often characterized police approaches to protests and riots as brutal. He wondered why a single mistake by an individual can be generalized.
“The media has not been fair to us; characterizing our confrontations and mistakes committed by a few individuals as brutality. I am not condoning mistakes but an individual officer’s fault cannot be tainted on the whole institution,” he said.
He however advised his officers to only target criminals while sparing bypassers during protests.
“Officers should target only criminals using baton charge but ensure they do not cause death. In summary it is engagement first to minimize harm although rioters don’t care,” Kayihura said.
