Police have confirmed that the Inspector-General of Police, Martin Okoth Ochola has not exclusively resumed work since he suffered high blood pressure.
Ochola has been battling high blood pressure from the time the assistant IGP Maj Gen Paul Lokech was pronounced dead.
Ochola was noticeably missing at the vigil and funeral of the late lokech because of ill health.
Police joint chief of staff Brig-Gen Jackson Bakasamba represented Ochola at the requiem mass at his home in Kitikifumba zone in Kira Division and burial at Pader.
Now the Police Pathologist Dr Moses Byaruhanga says Ochola was granted sick leave he juggles between working from office and home until his condition stabilizes.
Byaruhanga made the revelation while security was interfacing with the Parliamentary Committee on Defence to respond to matters on the Internal Affairs budget.
Led by Minister for internal affairs Gen. Kahinda Otafire, the members wanted the IGP Ochola to personally respond to matters concerning his office.
The chairperson of the committee Rosemary Nyakikongoro inquired why Ochola was absent.
Geoffrey Macho, the Busia Municipality MP said that there were rumours ongoing that the IGP is on oxygen, and the official representative of Police in the meeting should explain exactly what is wrong.
Macho said: “And madam chair as we hear, there are rumours circulating that the IGP is on oxygen , and in Uganda whenever rumours start circulating …I, therefore, need an explanation, tell us what is wrong,I don’t know why they should talk for him, this is a senior citizen in this country and you know the rate at which senior citizens,God is calling them, clarify if our person is not healthy so that we can begin praying to God.”
In response, Byaruhanga said: ”Ever since he lost the only brother that he had, his blood pressure has been unfair, and when he faces stress full conditions it tends to shoot up the recent demise of the DIGP we really had a rough time with his condition, so we have advised him and his physicians in Mulago to avoid long meetings, but he comes to office, attends work and is regularly visited by his physician.”
Bakasumba said that indeed Ochola was unwell and that’s why the Police doctor came to explain this.
