Kampala — Widely known within the Police Force as a disciplinarian, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr Martin Okoth-Ochola, has been appointed the Deputy Inspector General of Police to replace Mr Julius Odwe, who is retiring after three decades of service.

A police source who preferred anonymity told Daily Monitor that Mr Ochola has already appeared before the Parliamentary Appointment's Committee to assess his competence and academic papers.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police is appointed by the President. When Daily Monitor contacted him yesterday, Mr Ochola, who was in a jovial mood, confirmed the development but declined to divulge details saying he was still holding a meeting.

Jovial Mood

"Thanks a lot. But where is the wine [for the celebration]," Mr Ochola joked. Mr Ochola, the former Director of Criminal Investigations, replaces Mr Odwe, one of the most experienced police officers, whose contract expires on August 1. Mr Odwe has also notified in writing his fellow officers about his retirement next month. "This is to inform you in writing that I will be retiring from active service of the Uganda Police Force on August 1, 2011," Mr Odwe wrote.

The revelation of his retirement comes three days to the expiry of the three-year contract of all Assistant Inspector Generals of Police except Mr Andrew Sorowen and Mr Asan Kasingye. The Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura's second-term contract also expires in October.

Mr Odwe earlier told Daily Monitor that he was to retire to forestry business and fighting poverty in Lango sub-region.

After the end of the two-decade war against the Lord's Resistance Army that forced police out of the northern Uganda, Mr Odwe was tasked to re-establish police in those areas including Karamoja and Sebei sub-regions.

By June 2011, police were present in all areas of the north and Karamoja region. In 1981, he joined the force as a police cadet after completing his Bachelor of Science in Forestry degree at Makerere University. He rose through the ranks through tough times including audit of the police performance in an inquiry by the Justice Julia Ssebutinde's Commission.