Kampala, Uganda: The Uganda Police Force (UPF) Thursday the passing of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Charles Kataratambi, the force’s Director of Human Rights and Legal Services.
AIGP Kataratambi, formerly head of the force’s Special Investigations Division, died October 02, after battling health complications, including diabetes.
Profile and Rise Through the Ranks
Charles Kataratambi joined the Uganda Police Force in 2001 as a cadet and steadily rose through the ranks. Over two decades, he served in key units including the Criminal Investigations Directorate, the Media Crimes Unit, the Land Protection Police Unit, and the Flying Squad.
His career took a decisive turn in 2013 when he was appointed commander of the Special Investigations Division (SID), one of the police’s most sensitive units handling high-profile and complex cases. That position earned him recognition as a no-nonsense investigator, but it also placed him at the center of some of the most controversial episodes in the force’s recent history.
While serving at SID, he was arrested and accused of mishandling high-profile fraud investigations, including the Katosi road scam. He was subsequently asked to hand over the office. Although later cleared of wrongdoing, the episode left a dent on his public image and saw him spend years without deployment.
In May 2024, after years on the sidelines, Kataratambi was promoted to AIGP and assigned to head the Directorate of Human Rights and Legal Services, a portfolio meant to steer the force’s adherence to human rights standards and manage its legal affairs.
While critics questioned the decision to place Kataratambi in charge of the police’s human rights desk, given his checkered record, his supporters insisted he had the professional grounding and legal acumen to steer the directorate.
Reputation and Legacy
Despite his controversies, colleagues at Naguru police headquarters remember Kataratambi as calm but firm, a man who combined investigative grit with legal grounding.
His leadership at the Human Rights Directorate was intended to give the police a stronger human rights outlook at a time when the force faced mounting criticism from civil society and international observers.
His passing marks the end of a career that reflected both the opportunities and contradictions of Uganda’s policing. A man once in charge of the spy-style Special Investigations Division ended his career as the human rights and legal face of the force.
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