KAMPALA, UGANDA: The Inspector General of Police, Martins Okoth Ochola has made a first public appearance after over a month but declined to comment on social media reports that he was critically ill.
Earlier this week reports that the police inspector general of police was not fine and that he was on oxygen after being critically ill circulated on social media.
On Wednesday, Police spokesperson Fred Enanga released a statement asking the public to disregard social media rumors that Ochola was hospitalized and on oxygen.
“Please disregard rumors circulating on social media claiming that the IGP is hospitalized and on oxygen,” Enanga said in a brief statement.
“Much as the IGP developed a bit of hypertension, after hearing with shock the sudden demise of his former Deputy, Lt.Gen. Paul Lokech, his condition was not life-threatening, after it was effectively managed by both his Personal Doctor and the Police Surgeon.”
On Friday (yesterday), Ochola officiated at the annual general meeting for the Police Directorate of Health Service held at Police headquarters in Naguru as the chief guest.
He, however, avoided commenting on the issue of his health but spoke in parables as he referred to the media in his speech.
“Our friends from the media are also here but I won’t say much more than what has been said about me,” Ochola said.
In his message to police doctors, Ochola, who cautioned them against acts of corruption, pledged to improve the police force’s health service directorate by putting in all necessary protective equipment needed for the doctors to perform their tasks.
After his speech, Ochola posed for a group photo with other members of the police management team, but declined to answer any question from journalists and left the police headquarters for other engagements.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the meeting, AIGP Moses Byaruhanga, the Police Director in charge of medical services insisted that the police chief is fine and carrying on well with his duties.
Byaruhanga noted that the management style of the current police chief is one where he calls for meetings and gives instructions to directors and other commanders on what to do rather than himself going to the field like the former IGP Gen. Kale Kayihura used to do.
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