Fallen Deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj Gen Paul Lokech will be buried on Friday, August 27. This is according to a tentative programme released by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Okoth Martin Ochola.
According to a Police statement that The Ugandan Wire has accessed, the late Gen. Lokech passed on from his home due to a blood clot.
Ochola said that on Wednesday August 25 2021, the body will be transported to his home at Kitikifumba in Kira Division, for prayers and viewing.
On Thursday August 26 2021, the body will leave Kampala for his home in Baibir village in Pader district and on Friday August 27 2021, the burial will take place at Baibir Village, Ludele parish, Pader Town Council, in Pader district.
“We want to inform all mourners and well-wishers, planning on visiting the family or attending the vigil and service at the deceased’s home, that due to CO VID-19, they are reminded to wear a mask, sanitise or regularly wash their hands with soap and also maintain social distancing,” Ochola said.
He further said that those planning on paying their last respects in the village are also advised to do so in a safe manner noting that their enforcement teams will maintain safety and security within and around all venues.
“The burial will be with full honours from the police, while the gun salute will be presented by the UPDF. The pall bearers will be UPDF officers at the rank of Major General, while the sword bearers will be police officers at the rank of commissioner,” he noted.
Ochola said Gen Lokech was among the best commanders in the force, who bravely put his country first and took many risks to protect Ugandans.
He explained that a post-mortem examination was carried out on the body of the deceased and established that the victim got a fracture of the right ankle joint, around the end of July, 2021.
“During the autopsy, the pathologists opened the right lower leg, which was injured, and found a very big blood clot that had formed in one of the big blood vessels. They further opened his chest and found part of the blood clot had been carried into the lungs. As a result, both vessels in the lungs were blocked, thus leading to the shortage in breath and subsequent death,” Ochola said.
The soldier, nicknamed the “Lion of Mogadishu” for his part in defeating the Somali terrorist group Al-Shabab, died on Saturday morning at his home.
