Luke Kercan Ofungi (29 March 1934 – 4 September 1990) was an inspector general in the

Uganda Police Force The Uganda Police Force is the national police force of Uganda. The head of the force is called the Inspector General of Police (IGP). The current IGP is Martin Okoth Ochola. Ochola replaced former IGP, General Kale Kayihura in March 2018. Rec ...

, a businessman in the travel industry in

Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa. The country is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The sou ...

, and a member of the Alur community.

Early history

Ofungi was born in Padolo Village, Okoro County,

Nebbi District Nebbi District is a district in Northern Uganda. It is named after its main municipal, commercial and administrative centre, Nebbi, the location of the district headquarters. Location Nebbi District is bordered by Madi Okollo District to the no ...

West Nile sub-region West Nile sub-region, previously known as West Nile Province and West Nile District, is a sub-region in north-western Uganda, in the Northern Region of Uganda. Location The sub-region is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the s ...

, Northern Region of Uganda. Between 1951 and 1953, he attended the East African Orthodox School, completing Junior Secondary III (J3). On 10 October 1954, he joined the

as a recruit

police constable A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in criminal law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. A constable is commonly the rank of an officer within the police. Other peop ...

. He was assigned to the Police Training School at Kibuli, in

Kampala Kampala (, ) is the capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 1,680,000 and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division, and Ruba ...

. On 1 January 1957, he was promoted to corporal and on 1 October 1959, to sergeant. On 1 June 1960, he was promoted to station sergeant, and on 1 February 1961, he was promoted to sub-inspector and transferred to Arua, attached to the Special Branch l, a division of the Uganda Police. On 1 April 1963, he was promoted to inspector of police and sent to the United Kingdom for further studies. On 10 October 1963, he was promoted to the gazetted rank of

assistant superintendent of police Assistant superintendent, or assistant superintendent of police (ASP), is a rank that was used by police forces in the British Empire and is still used in many police forces in the Commonwealth. It was usually the lowest rank that could be held ...

. On 5 September 1964, he was transferred from Arua to

Fort Portal Fort Portal or Kabarole is a city located in the Western Region of Uganda. It is the seat of both Kabarole District and historically of the Toro Kingdom. Location Fort Portal in Kabarole District is located approximately by road, west of Kampa ...

, still attached to the Special Branch, serving in that capacity until 8 June 1965, when he was transferred to Special Branch Headquarters in Kampala. On 10 October 10, 1970, he was promoted to

superintendent of police Superintendent (Supt) is a rank in the British police and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries, the full version is superintendent of police (SP). The rank is also used in most British Overseas Territories ...

. On 13 May 1973, he was promoted to senior assistant commissioner of police. On 1 January 1974, he was appointed commissioner of police.

Idi Amin's regime

As IGP, Ofungi's deputy was ''Ali Toweli''. ''George William Luzide Mukasa'' was appointed

Director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''D ...

of the

Criminal Investigation Department The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is the branch of a police force to which most plainclothes detectives belong in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth nations. A force's CID is distinct from its Special Branch (though officers of b ...

, (CID) and ''Aisu'' was made Director of the Special Branch. On 1 August 1974, Inspector General Luke Ofungi was sent on leave by President

Idi Amin Idi Amin Dada Oumee (, ; 16 August 2003) was a Ugandan military officer and politician who served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. He ruled as a military dictator and is considered one of the most brutal despots in modern w ...

after defying the dictator openly at a security meeting. Knowing that his life was in danger, Ofungi fled across the border with his family to exile in

Nairobi Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper h ...

Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi ...

After Idi Amin

After the fall of Amin's regime, Ofungi returned and was appointed Deputy Inspector General of Police on 9 October 1979, to help reorganize the Police Force. He was later sent to

in Uganda's Foreign Service. On 15 May 1980, he was appointed

Inspector General of Police An Inspector General of Police is a senior police officer in the police force or police service of several nations. The rank usually refers to the head of a large regional command within a police service, and in many countries refers to the most se ...

, serving in that capacity until 1 May 1981, when he took leave of absence, under the government of President

Milton Obote Apollo Milton Obote (28 December 1925 – 10 October 2005) was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda to independence from British colonial rule in 1962. Following the nation's independence, he served as prime minister of Uganda from 1962 to ...

. On 1 November 1985, following the overthrow of the Obote II regime, Luke Ofungi was re-appointed Inspector General of Police by

Tito Okello Tito Lutwa Okello (1914 – 3 June 1996) was a Ugandan military officer and politician. He was the eighth president of Uganda from 29 July 1985 until 26 January 1986. Background Tito Okello was born into an ethnic Acholi family in circa 1914 ...

. The Okello regime was overthrown in January 1986, and President

Yoweri Museveni Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa (born 15 September 1944) is a Ugandan politician and retired senior military officer who has been the 9th and current President of Uganda since 26 January 1986. Museveni spearheaded rebellions with aid of then ...

took over. Ofungi continued to serve as Inspector General. Sometime in 1989, he was sent on forced leave, under investigation, together with his two deputies; ''Kyefulumya'' of the Administration department, and ''Maswere'' of Operations. The Uganda government cleared him of what were proven to be false charges and went on to posthumously appoint him on contract effective November 1, 1989, for 24 months.

Later years

During his leave he focused on the tour and travel company he had set up in the 1970s and with his wife ''Claudia Kinobe'', and continued to run a confectionery and restaurant called ''Confe'' in

. Ofungi served as Inspector General of Police through four regimes and many turbulent years in

. He died on 4 September 1990 at the age of 56, before being reinstated to the post of IGP for the fifth time. Luke Ofungi was buried in his home county on 12 September 1990. In honour of his contributions to the building of the

and the country. The Uganda government accorded him a full state funeral.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ofungi, Luke Kercan 1934 births 1990 deaths Ugandan police chiefs People from Nebbi District Alur people

Early history

Idi Amin's regime

After Idi Amin

Later years

See also

References