Profile: Meet Maj Gen Paul Lokech, the man taking over from Sabiiti Muzeeyi as deputy police chief

The star of Maj Gen Paul Lokech shone a little brighter on December 16 when commander-in-chief Gen Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni appointed him deputy police chief.

If approved by Parliament, Maj Gen Lokech will replace Maj Gen Steven Sabiiti Muzeeyi as deputy IGP.

Here is what you need to know about Lokech:

• Lokech will be handing over his special assignments in South Sudan to Maj Gen James Birungi.
• For 13 months, Lokech has been monitoring the assembling, screening, demobilization and integration South Sudan soldiers.
• He was Uganda’s representative on the list of officers guarantors of the South Sudan peace process picked to observe the process of integration of the soldiers from various groups, including former rebels.

• 2011-2012: UPDF AMISOM commander in Somalia
• Participated in Operation Safe Hand where UPDF attacked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in DR Congo
• Commander of Second UPDF Division (based at Makenke Barracks in Mbarara)
• Military Attaché at Uganda’s Embassy to Russia in Moscow
• 2017 to 2018: Returned to command UPDF AMISOM officers in Somalia
• Somalis nicknamed him ‘Lion of Mogadishu’ for breaking terrorist camps
• 2018: Appointed Commander of Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre (URDCC) – based in Jinja.
• 2019: Lokech was UPDF Air Force Chief of Staff for about five months before Brig Charles Okidi replaced him at the start of 2020
• December 2020: Appointed Deputy Police Chief pending parliamentary approval

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