By Ampaire Patience

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on March 4, 2018, fired Gen Kale Kayihura as Inspector General of Police (IGP) and elevated his deputy Martin Okoth Ochola to succeed him.

Few days later, Gen Kayihura and an undisclosed number of his associates were arrested by the military. Gen Kayihura was arrested at his country home in Katebe village, Kashagama sub-county in Lyantonde district. He was flown to Kampala in an army helicopter for further interrogation before they sent him to prison.

On that day when Gen was arrested, it was a terrific moment for his die-hards in Lyantonde and they didn’t get tired of following the case of their hero who was tried before the general court-martial in Makindye, Kampala currently presided over by Brig. Gen. Freeman Mugabi.

Gen. Keyihura was charged with failure to protect war material by issuing arms to unauthorized persons between 2010 and 2018. The army also accused him of aiding and abetting the kidnapping and repatriating Rwandan exiles, refugees, and Uganda citizens to Rwanda between 2012 & 2016, the charges he denied.

Reports have it that a few months ago, the first son Gen. Muhoozi Keinerugaba pleaded with President Gen. Museveni to pardon Gen. Kayihura and rehabilitate him, a request that yielded freedom for Kayihura and finally got released after almost 4yrs in jail.

On hearing the news of releasing Gen. Kayihura, the people of Kashagama headed by David Kyagulanyi and Topher Kajwara Muhanguzi both closest friends to Gen. Kayihura organized a grand party at Camp Martin Hotel in Kashagama town to celebrate General’s retirement and being set free.

While delivering his speech at this party, General Kayihura thanked the government of President Museveni and Gen Muhoozi Keinerugaba specifically for fighting hard to make sure the former police boss regained his freedom.

Kayihura said that he was so silent about the charges against him because he knew that he was innocent, noting that his retirement was okayed because he proved that he was innocent.

“Once you have a crime you can never retire, you stay jailed until everything is sorted. So they realized that I was a free man,” said Kayihura.

Being a farmer, Kayihura promised Kashagama people and Lyantonde at large to tip them on modern farming so that they harvest big and earn from their sweat.

At the same party, Muhanguzi Topher a friend and brother to Gen. Kayihura thanked President Museveni for the good governance saying that it was because of good governance that Kayihura was granted freedom and returned home without any case to answer.

“As people of Kashagama, we are very much privileged for the return of our brother safely,” said Muhanguzi. He added that Gen. Kayihura helped the people of Kashagama to stop cattle raiding that had become a threat to Lyantonde district.

Muhangi Fred the Chairman LCV – Lyantonde district said that they organized the party to celebrate Kayihura’s freedom because he has done a lot for the country security-wise.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank God for battling with your charges and setting you free,” said Muhangi adding,”The day General was arrested, there seemed an eclipse across the district and the country at large but when he was set free we saw light again.