The Inspector General of Police, John Martins Okoth Ochola is expected to hand over office after the expiry of his contract, the Nile Post has learnt.
Ochola was appointed as the police chief in March, 2018, to replace his then boss, Gen Kale Kayihura.
When the first three-year contract expired in March 2021, President Museveni extended it for another three years which expire on March, 4.
This website has exclusively learnt that later today, Ochola will hand over office during a function at the police headquarters in Naguru as the police awaits President Museveni to appoint his replacement.
Whereas the president would have loved to retain him, source privy to the matter say Ochola decided it is time to retire from the force.
Police recently warned senior security officers against lobbying for Ochola’s job.
“The position of the Inspector General of Police is very prestigious and takes a lot of hardware to earn. The person of the IGP must be somebody competent in leadership and administration and therefore, the position cannot be lobbied. After the police authority vetting names, they are forwarded to the president. Those who think they can lobby the president to appoint them are wrong. That’s not how things work,” police spokesperson, Fred Enanga said.
A career police officer with 30 years’ experience, Ochola has risen through the police ranks to the highest office in the force.
Born 1958, in Agumiti village, Mulanda sub-county, West Budama County, in Tororo District, Ochola attended Abweli Primary School, then Rock View Primary School and Kisoko Boys Primary School, where he sat his primary leaving examinations. He attended Namilyango College, where he obtained his high school diploma.
He studied at Makerere University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1983.
The following year, he obtained a postgraduate diploma in legal practice, from the Law Development Centre.