By Frederic Musisi
The Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura has for the first time in over a fortnight spoken out about his health saying the numerous questions about his health show that Ugandans care about him.
Speaking to Daily Monitor in a telephone interview from the Turkish capital Ankara over the weekend, Kayihura said he was touched that people were actually concerned about his life, and reassured the public that he is in perfect health.
When asked on Saturday whether he had been indisposed as reprted, Gen Kayihura said he would provide details upon his return on Monday. “Am on business here (in Turkey), but i will grant interviews when i am back”, he said.
Speculation about General Kayihura’s health began swirling after he missed attending two key national events; The President’s June 6th State Of The Nation Address and the subsequent reading of the national budget.
The police chief’s last public appearance was at a security meeting chaired by President Yoweri Museveni at State House Entebbe on May 31st
On June 12th, the Uganda Police Force issued a statement titled “alleged sickness of IGP” refuting the speculation and said Gen Kayihura was in very good health and the country should not be alarmed.
“These are complete false stories invented by people with fertile imaginations. There is no iota of truth in these stories, reads the statement by police spokesperson Asan Kasingye. He promised that the police chief would return to the country last but he didn’t fuelling further speculation about the state of his health.