Gen Lokech’s clan members ask Ugandans to forgive him

Pader, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The members of Pa’Lubele clan in Paipir village, Pader district where the former Deputy Inspector General of Police Maj Gen. Paul Lokech hails from have asked Ugandans to forgive their son for any wrongs he could have committed during his tour of duty.

Gen. Lokech died on Saturday morning from his home in Kitikifumba, Kira municipality in Wakiso district. Postmortem findings issued by the police show that Gen Lokech succumbed to a blood clot in his lungs.

Mark Odongkara Odepa, the spokesperson of Pa’Lubele clan and a nephew to the deceased says that whereas the family believes Gen. Lokech was a good man, it’s also hard to deny that he could have made mistakes in his career.

Odepa told Uganda Radio Network in an interview that despite his mistakes which are human, all those affected should find space in their hearts to forgive him and his clan members.

He notes that Gen Lokech’s death should unite Ugandans who had differences to continue promoting his vision of ensuring peaceful co-existence. According to Odepa, the clan members haven’t yet received official communication from the government on the postmortem of their son, adding that they expect to get a full briefing from the state.

Gen Lokech had just served for eight months as the Deputy Police Chief following his appointment in December last year by President Museveni. Back in his home district of Pader, the former Police Chief had a bumpy relationship with former Aruu County Member of Parliament Samuel Odonga Otto who accused him of meddling in the January 2021 Parliamentary elections in the district.

Otto blamed his loss on Gen Lokech, who he claimed meddled in the polls to favour his opponent Christopher Komakech, an independent candidate and adopted son. Komakech garnered 9,327 votes against 5,953 votes garnered by Otto.

The former legislator says that he has forgiven Gen Lokech after sharing extracts from his future book, “Otto my life story”, on social media on Sunday detailing his “horrific” campaign times and arrest allegedly masterminded by Gen Lokech.

Meanwhile, mourners continue flocking the deceased home as preparations are in high gear for his send-off on Friday in Paipir village in Pader town council. Prior to his appointment into the Uganda Police force, Gen. Lokech served as the commander of Uganda People’s Défense Air force-UPDAF between July to December 2019.

He also served on two occasions in war-torn Somalia as the Uganda People’s Defence Forces Contingent Commander between 2011-12 and 2017-2018 where he registered success in destabilizing Al-Shabaab and earned the name, “Lion of Mogadishu”.

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