The Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura is slated to meet a group of youth activists, the Youth Coalition for Change (YCC) who on Friday last week petitioned the British High Commission over the conduct of the Uganda Police, calling for the IGP’s resignation.
The youths in their petition, said the BHC as the biggest funder of the police forces should not stand by as police continues to treat innocent Ugandans inhumanely.
Gen Kayihura told reporters on Sunday at a press conference in Mbarara that he is not afraid of tendering his resignation if need arises.
He noted however that the youths were not following the right channels in the quest for his resignation.
“There are steps followed to cause my resignation if Ugandans think I have failed to perform my duties,” he said.
“If they feel that I should leave, I would not hesitate to hand the office to another person to run it.”
Kayihura noted however that his resignation would not come from the British High Commission and reminded the youth group that the Commission is not the biggest funder of police work.
“As police we are funded by the Ugandan government but not the British High commission as they youth petitioners said.”
Kayihura went on to warn the youths and the public to desist from colonial tendencies as Uganda is an independent country.
Meanwhile, at the press conference Gen Kayihura irritably criticized government’s Human Rights Commission for “subjectively accusing the police of brutality on the so called innocent Ugandans.”
He noted with concern that the HRC comes out only when the overstretched police force uses unconventional means to contain Col Dr Kizza Besigye’s rowdy supporters, but never when the police officers come under attack from the same supporters.
The IGP made the observation after naming two police officers that were reportedly injured with stones by Besigye supporters at Friends Corner Hotel during the latter’s rally in Mbarara town on Saturday.
The injured officers are PC Paul Ouni and PC Elijah Byarugaba.
“I hardly hear anything from the Commission and other human rights groups when the police are under attack; but we’re always the sacrificial lamb while we try to contain the situation on the streets from getting out of hand,” he said.
“This is hypocrisy; we cannot accept becoming the punching bag.”
The HRC Chairman Michael Wambi last week described Police’s beating of Besigye supporters on Entebbe Road as “a blatant violation of the rights and freedoms of the victims.”
Kayihura admitted at the news conference that often times his police officers make mistakes and that when they do, he comes out and apologizes.
“Like last week, I did not only apologize but also took action and the errant officers are already in detention waiting to be disciplined by the Professional Standards Unit,” Kayihura said.
