Uganda sacked its security minister and police chief after authorities faced a wave of criticism for failing to solve a series of murders and other crimes.
Public anger mounted after a young woman from a wealthy family was abducted in Kampala last month, held for nearly three weeks and then murdered, even after ransom was paid.
Newspaper articles, radio call-in shows and social media postings heaped criticism in particular on police chief Kale Kayihura.
President Museveni said he replaced Kayihura with deputy police chief Okoth Ochola and named army general Elly Tumwine to replace security minister Henry Tumukunde.
The veteran leader did not spell out reasons in his message on Twitter. Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo said the decision was linked to failure to carry out investigations, especially “when these investigations point inwards either to police officers’ involvement or complicity.”
The sacked security minister and police chief were not immediately available for comment. Both fought alongside Museveni in a five-year guerrilla war that brought him to power in 1986.
Last month two foreigners, Finn Terasvouri Tuomas Juha Petteri and Nordlarndar Sebastien Andreas from Sweden, were found dead in their rooms at two hotels in the capital.
Police said they were treating the deaths as murders.
Kayihura attracted public criticism for a police crackdown on opposition activists, often breaking up rallies with teargas, beatings and detentions.
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