Former Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura on Thursday morning handed over the top office in the force to his successor Mr John Martins Okoth-Ochola.
Kayihura has praised President Yoweri Museveni the “Commender in Chief” for letting him serve the force as boss for 12 years than any officer.
President Museveni, on March 4 relieved Kayihura of his duties as police chief after 12 years, replacing him with his deputy Okoth-Ochola, a career police officer.
However, the force Gen Kayihura has just handed over to Okoth-Ochola is highly indebted with numerous service providers.
Uganda Police Force is faced with financial catastrophes after contracted companies and individuals announced demanding the force billions of money.
Recently food suppliers to the institution revealed to this website that they are demanding the force over 33 billion shillings since 2015.
Mr Badru Kisitu, the chairperson of the Police Suppliers Association, said many of them used bank loans to buy the food supplied to the Force and that banks have since begun attaching some of their property.
“We have supplied beans, rice and posho for all these years and none of us has received money for the supplies made. Where does the police expect us to get money to run our business?” said Mr Kisitu.
At the opening of the police council in Kigo, Wakiso District last month, former, Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura said the Force is choking on a Shs125b debt accruing from electricity, water, food supply and fuel supplies.
Uganda police has enjoyed a heavy budget during Kayihura’s tenure than any other police generations but the debts continued to grow.
