Waagacusub.com - Gen. Paul Lokech was announced dead at 10:15am on Saturday 21 August, after succumbing to a blood clot within a short while as per the post mortem report at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala. Lokech at the time of his demise, he was serving as Deputy Inspector General of Police an office assumed eight months later as from 16th December 2020 succeeding Maj. Gen. Muzeeyi Sabiiti. He served in many high portfolios appointed by the Head of state and in all these appointments he vehemently achieved as a smart military officer.

Maj Gen Lokech served in South Sudan where he was deployed in November 2019. He was sent to South Sudan to monitor on behalf of the guarantors for the South Sudan peace process, the Assembling, Screening, Demobilization and Integration of the Armed Forces of South Sudan. After which he previously served as part of the commanders of Uganda’s peace-keeping forces in South Sudan.

Museveni between 2017 to 2018 deployed Lokech to Somalia still as UPDF contingent commander and when he returned, he promoted him to the rank of Maj General. He immediately posted him to Jinja to command the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre.

The two-star General was part and parcel of Operation Safe Haven where UPDF extremely went offensive on rebels of Allied Democratic Front-ADF based in the Democratic Republic of Congo- DRC.

Maj Gen Lokech also commanded UPDF Second Division which is based in Mbarara at Makenke barracks. Other places where Maj Gen Lokech was deployed include Russia where he was Uganda’s Defense Attaché.

Recently in June 2021, he led in investigations into the attempted murder of Gen. Katumba Wamala in which he arrested the suspects and this made him a good Intelligence officer in the country.

In his times of service in Somalia, "He was a leader willing to put his soul into any job to get it ‘Done’. He was dependable, committed and brought valor, patriotism and poise to all his tasks. He always stepped in the gap; rising against formidable challenges that were being spearheaded by the Al-shabaab Rebels. His passing on is such a huge loss to the people of Somalia. It’s on record that Lokech earned his standings in the army as a fierce fighter against the Al-Shabaab in Somalia and issued a spirit of confidence and Patriotism to the Somalian Army. The People of Mogadishu accord maximum respect to him for the good work he deed in the insurgence creating peace and freedom in the highly chaotic areas that were being occupied by the rebels.  

The Somalia community credit him for breaking the back of Al-Shabaab militants when he was commander of UPDF contingent several times between 2011 and 2018.

Because of his relentless confrontation with Al-Shabaab insurgents and capturing key historical places like the Red Mosque in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, the then Brigadier Lokech was nicknamed the ‘Lion of Mogadishu’.

People like Gen Lokech and many others in our gallant Country Somalia, who serve in the military putting their lives on the front for the safety and freedom, they are forever Heroes. They deserve maximum respect for the sacrifices they often make.

Equally, Somalians, we hereby show our support and thank them always, as well as honoring their legacy.

As a pan-African and freedom fighter in the region, I hereby on behalf of my fellow countrymen condole with our dear Ugandans and all men and women in uniform. Also extend heartfelt sincerity to the family and friends of the deceased, by assuring you that the loss of your son Lokech is highly shared and felt in Somalia. But also note that his ultimate sacrifice during his life time shall always linger in our minds and would live to be fresh us our Hero and thus remembered. 

Deepest Condolence 

By Dahir Alasow

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