Inspector General of Police, Martins Okoth Ochola, To Hand Over Office As Contract Expires

The Inspector General of Police, John Martins Okoth Ochola, is set to hand over office following the expiration of his contract, according to sources within the police force.

Ochola, who took office in March 2018, replacing Gen Kale Kayihura, has served for six years as the head of the Uganda Police Force. President Museveni extended his initial three-year contract for another three years, which is due to expire on March 4, 2024.

Today, a function is scheduled at the police headquarters in Naguru where Ochola will formally hand over office as the force awaits President Museveni’s appointment of his replacement.

While President Museveni reportedly wished to retain Ochola, sources indicate that Ochola has decided it’s time to retire from the force.

Recent warnings from the police against senior security officers lobbying for Ochola’s job highlight the prestige and competence required for the position. Police spokesperson Fred Enanga emphasized that the position of the Inspector General of Police cannot be lobbied for and is subject to vetting by the police authority before being forwarded to the president.

Born in 1958 in Agumiti village, Tororo District, Ochola has a distinguished career in law enforcement spanning over 30 years. He attended Abweli Primary School, Rock View Primary School, and Kisoko Boys Primary School before completing his high school education at Namilyango College. Ochola furthered his education at Makerere University, obtaining a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1983, followed by a postgraduate diploma in legal practice the following year from the Law Development Centre.

As Ochola prepares to pass on the mantle of leadership, his successor will inherit the responsibility of leading one of Uganda’s most critical law enforcement agencies.