Paul Lokech Explained

Paul Lokech
Birth Date:1 January 1966
Birth Place:Pader District, Uganda
Death Place:Kitikifumba, Uganda
Honorific Prefix:Major General
Deputy Inspector General of Police
Occupation:Military officer
Deputy Inspector General of Uganda Police Force

Paul L'Okech (1 January 1966 – 21 August 2021) was a senior military officer at the rank of Lieutenant General in the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), who was appointed Deputy Inspector General of Police of the Uganda Police Force on 16 December 2020.[1] Between November 2017 and December 2019, he served on special assignment "to monitor on behalf of the guarantors of the South Sudan peace process, the assembling, screening, demobilization and integration of the armed forces of South Sudan".[2]

Before that, he served as Chief of Staff of the UPDF Air Force, from 11 July 2019 until 11 December 2019.[3] [4]

From December 2018 until July 2019, he was Commandant of Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre (URDCC), in Jinja, in the Eastern Region of Uganda.[5] He was appointed to that position in December 2018.[6]

On 21 August 2021, he suffered a fatal, sudden, massive, bilateral pulmonary embolus and died at his home, in Kitikifumba, Kira Town, Wakiso District, in the Central Region of Uganda.[7]

Background

Lokech was born in Pader District, in the Acholi sub-region in the Northern Region of Uganda, circa 1966.[7]

Military career

His military career includes service in various leadership capacities, including two tours as the Commander of the Uganda contingent to Somalia, as part of the AMISOM peace-keeping force. The first tour was between May 2011 and 2012. His second Somalia rotation was from December 2017 until December 2018.[3] [8] During his first tour, Lokech commanded Battle Groups Eight and Nine, responsible for ejecting Al-Shabaab militants from Mogadishu in 2011.[9] [10]

Before his second tour in Somalia, he was the Commanding Officer of the Second UPDF Division, based at Makenke Barracks, in Mbarara, in the Western Region of Uganda.[11] He has previously served as the Military Attaché at Uganda's Embassy to Russia, based in Moscow.[11]

He has also served as part of Uganda's peace-keeping forces in South Sudan. He was part of Operation Safe Haven (OSH), a UPDF operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo intended to neutralise the rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).[12]

Other considerations

In February 2019, President Yoweri Museveni promoted over 2,000 men and women to various ranks in the UPDF. As part of that exercise, Paul Lokech was promoted from Brigadier to Major General. His name was inadvertently left off the original list, and the Uganda military apologized for that omission.[12]

Illness and death

According to newspaper reports, Lokesh suffered a fracture of his right ankle about 3 to 4 weeks before his death. He was managed as an outpatient, by his private orthopedic surgeon. The affected ankle was put in a cast. He was scheduled to see his doctor on the morning of his death.[7]

At autopsy, the team of pathologists found a large blood clot inone of the veins in the right calf, a condition known as deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Proceeding to the lungs, the pathologists found both pulmonary arteries blocked by massive blood clots. They concluded that the patient died from sudden, bilateral massive venous thromboembolism.[7]

He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General.[13] [14]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: What you should know about new deputy IGP Lt Gen Paul Lokech . 16 December 2020 . . 18 December 2020 . The Independent . Kampala.
  2. Web site: Exclusive: Museveni sends Lt.Gen.Lokech on "special assignment" in South Sudan . 18 November 2019 . Nile Post Uganda . 13 December 2019 . Kenneth Kazibwe . Kampala.
  3. Web site: Major General Paul Lokech Appointed As New UPDAF Chief of Staff . SoftPower Uganda . 14 June 2019 . 14 June 2019 . SoftPower Reporter . Kampala.
  4. Web site: 11 December 2019 . Brig General Okidi takes over office of Chief of Staff Air Force . PML Daily . 13 December 2019 . Teddy Naiga . Kampala.
  5. Web site: Commander Paul Lokech promoted to Major General . Watchdoguganda.com . 9 February 2019 . 28 March 2019 . Lawrence Kazooba . Kampala.
  6. Web site: Museveni Effects New Reshuffle In UPDF . 22 December 2018 . SoftPower Uganda . 28 March 2019 . SoftPower Reporter . Kampala.
  7. Web site: Blood clot killed Maj Gen Paul Lokech, Police confirms . 22 August 2021 . . Faith Amongin . 22 August 2021 . Kampala, Uganda.
  8. Web site: Brig. Gen. Kabango takes charge of UPDF in Somalia . . 21 December 2018 . 28 March 2019 . The Independent . Kampala.
  9. Web site: New UPDF Contingent Commander arrives in Somalia . 19 December 2019 . 28 March 2019 . . AMISOM News . Mogadishu.
  10. See: AMISOM mourns the passing of former Sector One Commander, Major General Paul Lokech, AMISOM Press Release PR/22/2021 of 21 August 2021.
  11. Web site: . Brig Lokech returns to Somalia as UPDF contingent commander . 20 December 2017 . 28 March 2019 . Joseph . Kato . Kampala.
  12. Web site: Brigadier Lokech Promoted to Major General . Second Opinion Publications . 9 February 2019 . 28 March 2019 . Otucu . Francis . Kampala.
  13. Web site: Eagle Online Uganda . Museveni promotes fallen Maj. Gen. Paul Lokech to Lieutenant General . 27 August 2021 . Geoffery Serugo . 29 August 2021 . Kampala.
  14. Web site: ADF Sent Suicide Bombers To Lokech Funeral - Museveni . SoftPower Uganda . 30 August 2021 . Brian Asiimwe . 30 August 2021 . Kampala, Uganda.