LYANTONDE, Uganda — Gen. Kale Kayihura, the former Inspector General of Police (IGP) who led the Uganda Police Force for nearly 13 years, has staunchly defended the controversial Nalufenya detention facility and dismissed the significance of sanctions imposed on him by Western nations. In a wide-ranging interview published by the state-owned New Vision newspaper, Kayihura addressed head-on two of the most prominent criticisms leveled against his tenure, offering his most detailed public account since his dismissal in March 2018.
Speaking from his rural home in Katebe village, Lyantonde district, the 69-year-old former police chief tackled the persistent allegations surrounding Nalufenya, a facility that became synonymous with claims of torture and human rights abuses, particularly involving opposition figures. Kayihura told the New Vision that the narrative surrounding Nalufenya was “malicious” and lacked factual basis.
“First of all, it (Nalufenya) was a Police station, only that we decided to use it when we were fighting terrorism as a coordinating centre because of its infrastructure,” Kayihura explained to the newspaper. “So, I don’t know where these stories come from. It’s just malicious.” He specifically addressed the graphic claims that circulated about the facility, stating unequivocally, “Even this Nalufenya detention facility, which you people talk about and say there are snakes, crocodiles; it was the most open….”
Beyond Nalufenya, Kayihura addressed the sanctions imposed on him by the United States and the United Kingdom. When asked by the New Vision how these measures had affected him, he responded dismissively. “But how do they affect me? I have nothing in America or Europe or even outside Uganda. It is this (points at his house) that I have and maybe my home in Kisoro, because even the house I’m staying is mortgaged.”
Kayihura went further, questioning the moral authority and focus of the sanctioning countries. “But why don’t these Americans look for real people to sanction? Forget about me. If they are honest and it is not about blackmail, why don’t they sanction these people killing children in Palestine, if they are moralistic? What about those who are responsible for the war in Iraq based on lies? What about Libya?” he stated, according to the New Vision. He positioned himself as a victim, a “low-hanging fruit” in a broader political game. “They were after the President, but they can’t get him, so they get some of us, the low-hanging fruits. I am a patriot,” Kayihura asserted.
Throughout the interview, Kayihura maintained that his leadership of the police force was ultimately beneficial for the country. He reiterated his earlier assertion that he “left the Police force better than I found it,” citing improvements in personnel numbers, equipment, and the recruitment of professionals, including scientists, to enhance crime-fighting capabilities.
He also addressed the context of policing political events, stating his approach was often one of engagement aimed at minimizing disruption. “But to be honest with you, my method of policing was engagement to a fault and I was always provoked,” he told the New Vision, referencing instances where opposition figures allegedly deliberately obstructed traffic to attract crowds.
Kayihura’s detailed responses in the New Vision interview mark a significant moment of public commentary after a prolonged period of relative silence following his controversial departure from the helm of the Uganda Police Force.
His strong defense of the Nalufenya facility and his dismissive stance on the Western sanctions are likely to reignite debate and discussion about his legacy and the human rights record during his tenure.
