The outgoing Inspector General of Police (IGP), Martin Okoth Ochola, has handed over office to the Deputy IGP, Major General Geoffrey Tumusiime Katsigazi, after the expiry of his contract.

During a brief ceremony held at Naguru Police Headquarters in Kampala, on Monday, March 4, 2024, Ochola handed to Maj Gen Katsigazi a detailed report contained in a 388-page book.

SCP Fred Enanga, the Police Spokesperson, said that the former IGP listed both achievements and challenges that he encountered within his six-year reign as IGP.

According to Enanga, Maj Gen Katsigazi is now the acting Inspector General of Police, pending the substantial appointment of the new IGP by the Commander in Chief, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

Ochola, 66, took over the office of the Inspector General of Police from Gen Kale Kayihura, who had served as IGP since 2005 for 13 years.

Ochola, was appointed the IGP on March 4, 2018, replacing General Kale Kayihura, and his tenure ended on March 4, 2024.

Born on September 19, 1958, in Agumiti village, Mulanda sub-county, West Budama county in Tororo district Ochola attended Abweli Primary School, Rock View Primary School, and then Kisoko Boys Primary School, where he sat his Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE). He attended Namilyango College, and later went to Makerere University, where he studied and law and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1983. The following year, he obtained a postgraduate diploma in legal practice from the Law Development Centre (LDC).

Ochola went into private law practice, where he worked as a legal assistant between October and December 1984, at the law firm of Owori and Company Advocates in Mbale Town, in the Eastern Region of Uganda. He then relocated to Kampala, where he worked as a legal assistant at Kampala City Council for three years.

He joined the Uganda Police Force in January 1988, and started a nine-month basic training program. At that time he was given the rank of Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police. Following the training, in February 1989, Ochola was posted to Entebbe International Airport as the officer in charge of airport security.

From there, he served at Entebbe Police Station where he remained for three years. He was then posted to the police headquarters in Naguru as the acting Assistant Commissioner of Police in the legal department. He was promoted to superintendent of police and later to senior superintendent of police.

In May 2001, Ochola was appointed the Deputy Director of Criminal Investigations and remained in that position for seven years. In 2008, he was promoted to Commissioner of Police. That same year, he was confirmed as Director CID. In 2009, he was promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police.

In August 2011, President Museveni appointed him the Deputy Inspector General of Police till 2018 when he was elevated as IGP.