PAul Lokech; What You Didn't Know About The Late Maj. Gen

What You Didn’t Know About The Late Maj. Gen. Paul Lokech

Posted by: Eninu William in Uganda news August 21, 2021

On Wednesday, December 16, 2020, President Yoweri Museveni appointed Maj Gen Paul Lokech the new Deputy Inspector General of Police replacing Maj Gen Stephen Muzeeyi Sabiiti.

Maj. Gen Lokech joined the then National Resistance Army (NRA), which was later became the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) on 1st February 1987.

After his training, they quickly called him to battle. As a major, he commanded the 65th UPDF Battalion in Kisangani during the DR. Congo war in 2001.

After the fighting in DR. Congo, UPDF units had to withdraw back home. Nonetheless, logistics could not allow for a quick withdraw. The Ugandan border was a whole 700km away and the only option available for the soldiers was to walk the distance through extremely rough terrain or stay forever in DR. Congo.

Some soldiers were scared, but Lokech decided to walk part of the group back to Uganda. The precarious journey took three months and triumphantly, the unit that included several T-55 battle tanks was received by President Yoweri Museveni in Kasese.

Maj Gen Lokech was serving in South Sudan where they had deployed him in November 2019. The president sent him to South Sudan to monitor on behalf of the guarantors the South Sudan peace process, the assembling, screening, demobilization and integration of the armed forces of South Sudan.

Museveni appointed Sabiiti to deputize Martin Ochola on March 4, 2018 after the firing of Gen Edward Kale Kayihura.

His journey with the Police force.

Maj Gen Lokech came into the police force with a wealth of experience in leadership, administration and command. Lokech was one of the commanders disintegrating Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia when he was commander of UPDF contingent between 2011 and 2012.

He was a name to reckon with especially due to his relentless confrontation with Al-Shabaab insurgents and capturing key historical places like the Red Mosque in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu.

While serving as the UPDF contingent commander for Somalis between 2017 to 2018, many nicknamed him the ‘Lion of Mogadishu’.

Upon his return from Somalia as a Brigadier, the president promoted Lokech to the rank of Maj General. He posted him to Jinja as commander of the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre.

Gen Lokech was until his appointment as Deputy IGP was Chief of Staff of Uganda People’s Defence Air Force –UPDAF. He had previously served as part of the commanders of Uganda’s peace-keeping forces in South Sudan.

The two-star General was part and parcel of Operation Safe Haven where UPDF extremely went offensive on rebels of Allied Democratic Front-ADF. The now incarcerated Jamil Mukulu was the commander of this rebel group. The ADF was still based in the Democratic Republic of Congo- DRC by then.

Maj Gen Lokech also commanded UPDF Second Division which is based in Mbarara at Makenke barracks. Other places where Maj Gen Lokech was deployed include Russia where he was Uganda’s Defence Attaché.

Maj Gen Lokech was until his death, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, a position he served in from December 2020 until his last breath.

Check Also;

This is not a Paywall, but Newslex Point's journalism consumes a lot of time, hard-work and money. That's why we're kindly requesting you to support us in anyway they can, for as little as $1 or more, you can support us .

Please use the button below to contribute to Newslex Point, Inc. using a credit card or via PayPal.