As he bowed out of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire delivered a blunt assessment of his tenure, openly accusing sections of the Uganda Police Force of disregarding his instructions and frustrating efforts to improve accountability. Speaking during the official handover ceremony on Thursday, Otafiire reflected on the challenges he encountered while overseeing the country’s internal security agencies.
The veteran politician, who has now been reassigned to head the Ministry of Water and Environment, revealed that some police officers routinely ignored directives issued from his office. He said it was disheartening to learn that orders he had clearly communicated were often disregarded, leaving him questioning the level of discipline and responsiveness within the force.Otafiire further disclosed that his relationship with certain elements of the police became strained because crucial information was sometimes withheld from him.
He recounted occasions when he summoned officers to explain controversial incidents, only to be met with incomplete accounts despite already knowing the facts through intelligence channels.Drawing from his intelligence background, the outgoing minister said he deliberately chose restraint over confrontation. Rather than immediately exposing wrongdoing, he preferred observing events unfold, allowing those responsible to reveal themselves through their own actions.
According to him, patience often provides clearer answers than rushed reactions.While expressing disappointment with parts of the police establishment, Otafiire reserved praise for other agencies under the ministry. He singled out the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control for what he described as remarkable institutional progress, crediting long-serving officials for driving reforms and maintaining professionalism throughout periods of transition.The former minister strongly defended experienced immigration officers, arguing that institutional memory is essential for sustaining gains made over the years.
He warned that replacing seasoned personnel with newcomers unfamiliar with the department’s history could undermine hard-won achievements and slow down service delivery improvements.Otafiire was equally complimentary of the Uganda Prisons Service, describing it as one of the most dependable agencies under his supervision.
He noted that prisons officials consistently performed their duties with minimal intervention from his office, making the institution the least troublesome during his time at the ministry.Turning his attention to incoming minister Prof Ephraim Kamuntu, Otafiire expressed confidence in the ministry’s technical team and urged his successor to trust their expertise. He concluded with a lesson on leadership, likening effective governance to the stealth of a leopard rather than the loud presence of a lion, emphasizing strategy, patience and calculated action as the keys to lasting success
