By Brian Bariyo Tumuramye
The Hoima District Police Commander (DPC) was controversially transferred on Wednesday afternoon, just a few hours ahead of the much anticipated Woman member of Parliament By-election.
Spy Uganda has established that Christopher Katumba Kigundu who was the Hoima DPC, has since been transferred to EPPU.
According to the new changes from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martin Okoth Ochola, Katumba has since been replaced with Martin Okoyo from Mubende.
Sources within police say IGP Ochola acted under pressure from a given office above him to quickly replace Katumba although no reason was readily given. “He even gave the order via a phone call” the source revealed.
Voters in Hoima are to cast their ballots on Thursday morning September 26 which will determine who will be their next Woman MP.
The tight parliamentary race is between National Resistance Movement (NRM)’s Harriet Busingye Mugenyi and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)’s Asinasi Nyakato Kamanda.
The MP seat fell vacant after Tophace Kaahwa Byagira (NRM) chose to represent the newly created Kikuube District that was carved out of Hoima in July 2018.
ABOUT BUSINGE
Businge holds a Bachelor’s in Education. She is the proprietor of Good Samaritan Community School in Hoima Town, which offers bursaries to needy children.
She served as education minister in Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom for about 10 years and initiated a project to kick start the Bunyoro Kitara Royal University.
Businge also chaired the Kabalega Education Fund that was founded by the Omukama of Bunyoro to offer education opportunities to his needy students. She retired from kingdom service in 2015 to join active politics.
Businge also contested for the Hoima Woman MP seat in 2016 and lost to Tophas Kaahwa Byagira.
In 2018, she was appointed RDC Sembabule. She, however, declined the offer, saying she wanted to try her luck in parliamentary politics.
ABOUT NYAKATO
Nyakato is a princess of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Nyakato contested for the Hoima Woman MP seat in 2011 but lost to Ms Tophas Kaahwa Byagira.
From August 2011 up to 2016, she worked with Parliament as a policy analyst.
In 2016, she returned to Hoima to advocate the rights of communities affected by oil and gas developments in the Albertine Grabben.
She has led various groups to present their petitions to Parliament, protesting alleged irregularities in land compensations and displacement.
Nyakato is a member of the FDC National Executive where she serves as secretary for health services.
She is also the FDC general secretary for Hoima Municipality.
Nyakato previously served as secretary for environment in the FDC youth league.
However, it should be noted that Katumba wasn’t the only one who was transferred according to the new changes in police leadership and here is the list of those who were affected and below is the list of officers who were transferred.
