Maj. General Kahinda Otafiire (L) handed over Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu (R). PHOTO | GEOFFREY MUTUMBA
Outgoing Minister of Internal Affairs Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire has criticised sections of the Uganda Police Force over failure to heed his directives.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the Ministry of Internal Affairs on Thursday, Gen Otafiire said some officers repeatedly ignored his instructions despite several warnings.
“I have issues with them, the police. Some of them were not listening. You tell them, ‘Don’t do this, don’t do this,’ and later you hear they have gone ahead and done exactly that,” Otafiire said.
Gen Otafiire, who was appointed Minister of Water and Environment, officially handed over office to his successor, Prof Ephraim Kamuntu at a formal function witnessed by the ministry’s technical staff.
Reflecting on his tenure of office, Gen Otafiire singled out the Police Force as one of the institutions that presented him with the greatest challenges.
The veteran politician and former bush war fighter said attempts to steer certain decisions within the force were sometimes frustrated by officers who either disregarded advice or withheld information from the ministry.
“You remember, I would call them here and ask, ‘Gentlemen, what happened?’ At one point, they denied me information. What they did not know is that I am an intelligence officer. Everything that was happening, I knew. The difference is that I kept quiet,” he said.
In remarks that drew laughter from some members of the audience, Otafiire said he often chose patience over confrontation, allowing events to unfold naturally.
“If you want people to hang themselves, give them enough ropes. I knew what was happening and I kept quiet. I allowed events to unfold,” he said.
The outgoing minister, however, contrasted his experience with the Police Force with that of other agencies under the ministry, particularly the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control and the Uganda Prisons Service, both of which he praised for their performance.
Otafiire strongly defended the current leadership at the Immigration Directorate, crediting them for overseeing reforms in the institution.
He said such officers deserved to be retained rather than replaced.
He specifically endorsed senior immigration officials whom he said had played a central role in transforming the department into a modern and efficient institution.
“Kambere participated in the transformation of the department. They have institutional memory and are responsible officers. When you bring in new people, it takes time for them to learn the system,” he said.
The former minister revealed that he had advised against replacing some of the officers with personnel transferred from the military, arguing that continuity was necessary to safeguard gains made in service delivery.
According to him, introducing new officers unfamiliar with the department’s operations could reverse years of progress.
“During that period, we could easily slip back to what the department used to be. Since they grew within the department and witnessed the transformation, they are best suited to continue with the work,” he said.
Otafiire also commended the Uganda Prisons Service, describing it as one of the most stable institutions under his supervision.
“I have no problems with prisons. They have been doing very well. It is the department that has given me the least worry and therefore required the least interference from me,” he said.
Throughout his speech, the outgoing minister repeatedly emphasised his leadership philosophy of allowing institutions and technical officers to perform their duties without excessive political interference.
“My style of leadership has always been simple: do your work. I don’t want to do anybody’s work,” he emphasised.
Addressing Prof Kamuntu, who assumes leadership of the ministry following a recent Cabinet reshuffle, Otafiire expressed confidence in the ministry’s technocrats and senior officials, saying they would provide the support necessary to ensure continuity.
“Professor, they will help you. I am comfortable with the team here. Some people may be victims of circumstances, but over time things will sort themselves out,” he said.
He also used the occasion to urge leaders to exercise patience and strategic thinking, likening effective leadership to the hunting style of a leopard.
“Learn to hunt like a leopard, not a lion. When you go around announcing that you are a lion, everyone prepares for you. A leopard moves quietly. People do not see it coming. That has always been my style of leadership,” he said.
Otafiire leaves the ministry after overseeing key agencies including the Police, Immigration Directorate, Uganda Prisons Service and the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). His successor inherits a ministry at the centre of immigration management, internal security coordination, citizenship administration and prison services.
The handover ceremony was attended by senior government officials, security leaders and ministry staff, who paid tribute to Otafiire’s tenure while welcoming Prof Kamuntu to his new role.
