It is with deep sorrow that I announce the tragic death of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Andrew Felix Kaweesi, the Director Human Resource Development/ Police Spokesperson, which occurred this morning a few minutes after 0900hrs, at Tuba Village Nakawa Division in Kampala District.
The senior police officer was shot and killed a short distance away from his home, together with his bodyguard No. 47133 Cpl Erau Kenneth and driver number 60587 C/Drv Mambewa Godfrey, by yet to be identified gunmen on a bodaboda motorcycle. We have not yet established whether they were two or three gunmen.
Assailants on a bodaboda trailed him for some distance from his home, and while in motion, first fired shots in the air, and then shot at his police vehicle reg. no UP 4778, through the hind windscreen, and at the tyres, deflating them. They then showered the vehicle with bullets through the sides and into the vehicle, killing the three occupants. The thugs then fled in the direction of Kisaasi Trading Center on their motorcycle.
The Late AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi was a very able, patriotic, profession and reliable officer, who has left his mark on the force, leaving a vacuum that will be hard to fill. Let me on behalf of the entire police force, as well as my own behalf and that of my family, extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of our comrades.
Let me also on behalf of the Uganda Police express appreciation to HE the President who immediately, on learning of the murder of AIGP Felix Kaweesi, sent a message of condolence, condemnation of the killing, and reassurance to the country and the world that in spite of this tragic incident, the country’s security is robust and will be further enhanced.
In particular, the decision to procure and install CCTV Cameras in the city, all major towns and along the highways will greatly assist us to fight these thugs.
We should point out however, that while we appreciate this development, the police have not been deterred by the absence of CCTV cameras and other modern security technologies to fight and succeed in the fight against this violent thuggery in our country. Using traditional methods of criminal investigations, we have dealt serious blows on these cowardly thugs. Indeed most of the killers and their backers in the murders of a number of Sheiks especially between 2014 and 2015 (including the recent killing in a similar manner of the late Sheik Major Kiggundu) are all behind the bars and before courts of law facing justice.
They include the murders and sponsors of the late Sheik Bahiga in December 2014 at Bwebaja along Entebbe Rd; the late Sheikh Doctoor Muwaya in December 2014 at Mayuge District; the late Sheik Kirya which occurred in 2015 in Bweyogerere trading center; two police officers shot in 2015 while guarding the home of Lady Justice Mwondha; the late Tito Okware, the Chairman LCIII Namayingo District, the Late Sheick Kiguundi in Masanafu where our suspects were arrested and charged in court. Even in the pending case of the late Joan Kagezi, we have established very good clues towards the identity of the thugs that gunned her down.
If we could succeed with little support from technology, there is no doubt that with CCTV Cameras, violent thuggery such as that which has today claimed our comrades will be wiped out.
The public should therefore be reassured that in spite of this tragic loss, the days of thuggery in Uganda are numbered. As we remember AIGP Kaweesi and the comrades who died with him, let us rededicate ourselves to work together to make our country more secure through vigilance in our neighborhoods (Neighborhood Watch) and vigilance within the Police Force.
May the souls of the fallen comrades rest in eternal peace.
Burial arrangements will be communicated later.
We have meanwhile opened a condolence book at the police headquarters for members of the public and all staff to append their condolence messages.
GEN KALE KAYIHURA
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE
UGANDA POLICE
17.03.2017