Prime
Gen Aronda Nyakairima’s words
Gen Aronda’s widow lays a wreath on his casket at Kololo Independence grounds in Kampala yesterday. Photo by PPU
What you need to know:
Cause of death. Postmortem report indicates that Gen Aronda Nyakairima died of acute heart failure
PARLIAMENT.
Gen Aronda Nyakairima was soft-spoken and largely quiet, mostly speaking only when issues concerning the army, an institution whose interests he represented from Constituent Assembly days, were being discussed.
However, since his appointment to Cabinet as Internal Affairs minister, Gen Nyakairima became more lively on the floor of Parliament, mainly responding to queries from members about his docket and giving government positions.
In his slightly one-and-half years at the ministry, Gen Nyakirima has passionately defended the police contribution to peace and security in the country.
His words on:
Police Welfare: “We will work together with you, fellow MPs, to improve the welfare of police in especially three areas: accommodation, salaries and professionalism. We have already started by improving the training facilities at the training school.
Police recruitment
“The national character of the Uganda Police Force and the UPDF is determined in the recruitment and we do it during the day. I challenge anyone who has seen police or UPDF recruiting at night to come forward. I want to assure this country that there is no sectarianism and it can never be because it is outlawed in the Constitution. The national character of our police is maintained at recruitment.”
Weapons in northern region
“It was because of those weapons that the country is now peaceful. If we didn’t have helicopters and all those other weapons, may be the Kony war could have come down to us in other parts of the country.
Crime Preventers
“Crime preventers are people volunteering into the police. The group is prepared in all the efforts to reduce crime in society. We are simply taking all measures possible to ensure that Ugandans and their property are safe. We are putting in place measures to ensure that those who come in do not turn into a political force. We will do anything to ensure the stability of the country. If the training has included something to do with counter-terrorism, that does not mean it is militarisation.
