Police Declares Kayihura's Former Assistant AWOL

The Police management has declared Assistant Commissioner of Police-ACP Jonathan Baroza Absent without Official Leave-AWOL. In his message issued on Monday, Haji Moses Balimwoyo, the Director Human Resource Uganda Police Force, gives Baroza 5 day's ultimatum to report to work or be declared a deserter and wanted.

Balimwoyo directs Rwizi Regional Police Commander and Mbarara District Police Commander to trace for Baroza at his home in Rugando Sub County and inform him to return to work.  "The above mentioned officer has been reported AWOL from his duty station since June 2018. DPC Mbarara is required to check on him at the home of Kabiguruka Job as of Karora village, Rugando Subcounty in Mbarara District and advise the same to report to his duty station by 22/7/2018 or else be declared a deserter," reads the message in part.

Baroza was the former Personal Assistant to the former Inspector General of Police, Kale Kayihura before he was deployed as the Uganda Police Force Liaison Officer to Algeria in 2017. He was recalled to the Police headquarters in May 2018 for reassignment in vain.

It is not clear whether Baroza returned to the country as had been directed by the Police leadership. Prior to his recall from Algeria, there were claims that Baroza was wanted by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence for investigations into various crimes including illegal repatriation of Rwandan refugees.

Baroza is also one of the officers being investigated by the Inspectorate of Government as a beneficiary of accelerated promotions in the police force by the former IGP. Kayihura promoted Baroza from the rank of Superintendent of Police to Assistant Commission of Police when he served as his personal assistant.