The Honorable Minister of Internal Affairs
– The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Internal Affairs
– Honorable Members of Parliament present
– All mourners in your respective capacities.
– The family members of the late Commissioner of Police Christine Alalo
– Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is with great sadness that the Uganda Police Force was on Sunday 10th March 2019 hit by the tragic demise of Ag. Police Commissioner African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) CP Alalo Christine in a plane crash.
She was returning from Italy where she had gone to attend a Gender Protection Course. She boarded Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 in Addis Ababa and it was to take her to Nairobi en-route Mogadishu her duty station. Unfortunately, the plane crashed a few minutes after taking-off from Bole International Airport.
After receiving the sad news on the early morning of 11th March 2019, I convened a crisis meeting of senior management of UPF to organize and arrange for the funeral of the Late. A committee of Police officers Chaired by AIGP Grace Turyagumanawe and family members was put in place to coordinate and plan with family members to ensure the remains of Late CP Alalo Christine are brought home and laid to rest.
The Committee held several meetings, selected a team headed by AIGP Dr. Byaruhanga Moses, Mr. Okello James (brother) and two sons Emmanuel Ahimbisibwe and Alvin Asiimwe to proceed to Addis Ababa for a fact finding mission.The aim of the trip was to follow up on the identification of the remains, providing samples for DNA and follow-up on property and compensation issues.
We also liaised with Interpol Disaster Victim Identification Team (DVI) in Ethiopia with the help of AIGP Rwego Francis. Ante Mortem data was collected to run technical assessment on the ground of the situation and to plan appropriate international coordination.Ceremonies were held at the site of the crash where AIGP Dr. Byaruhanga Moses represented UPF, AIGP Rwego Francis and Ugandan fraternity at AU and Embassy of Uganda in Ethiopia joined in memoirs of the late.
The identification process using DNA and full investigation of the plane crash is still ongoing in Ethiopia. We are waiting for the results of this investigation through our Embassy in Addis Ababa and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for us to take the next action.
The life of Christine stands as a testament to the entire human kind that global or institutional challenges have no control over greatness in you. CP. Alalo was a strong woman, focused, determined, a great mentor to her team, full of life, instrumental in mainstreaming gender in the UPF, and always raised gender issues in all discourses.
Having joined the force on 18th August 2001, the late CP. Alalo distinguished herself and discharged her national and international police duties with utmost sincerity and commitment. She was a highly valuable and respected member of UPF and the effects of her passing are already being felt by the Institution. She made many great contributions to the institution and helped it move forward in numerous ways.
During the 17(seventeen) and half years of police service, she served as OC Station Lira, DPC Entebbe, Staff officer of the Directorate of Human Resource Management, served in United Nations (UN) Mission in Sudan, Commissioner of Child and Family Protection Department and in 2015, she was appointed as Deputy Commissioner AMISOM in Somalia. At the time of her demise, she was the Acting Commissioner AMISOM.
Before joining AMISOM, she was subjected to an interview and emerged the winner among other competitors. This was because of the experience she gained having served in United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) as a Peacekeeper in 2007 to 2009.
Before she left for AMISOM, she headed the Department of Child and Family Protection Unit where she excelled in her duties and was awarded the European Union’s Human Rights Defender prize in June 2014.
In AMISOM, she was rated highly in the discharge of her responsibilities to the extent that she acted as the Police Commissioner, in the absence of a substantive Police Commissioner.
From African Union ratings, the Late performed her duties to the satisfaction of African Union Commission (AUC) and all critical stakeholders, by inspiring Police personnel in the Mission to higher levels of commitment, dedication and service to the cause of peace in Somalia.
She was an officer of high integrity, hardworking, dedication, commitment and professionalism and,gained respect from whoever would interact or work with at all different levels.
Her diligence to work saw her rise in ranks and by the time of her death she was a Commissioner of Police who had very commendable potential to rise to up to the top of UPF rankings. She mentored many officers throughout her carrier and took them up as sons and daughters, she was indeed a mother of the nation, highly respected member of the force who loved her job.
I would like to express on behalf of the Uganda Police Force, our sincere condolences to the deceased’s children, Parents and family friends.It is hard to imagine what you must be going through. CP. Alalo’s sudden and unexpected passing away must have been heartbreaking and devastating to you.Words fall short when I try to express the sorrow I feel knowing that you are bearing a loss so profound. They say the most painful goodbyes are the ones that are never said and explained, and as we try to cope with such a loss we find it difficult to see beyond the grief.May you find peace and comfort in knowing that your grief is shared by so many of us.
Finally, I take this opportunity to thank the Uganda Embassy in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, African Union Commission (AUC) in Addis Ababa, African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), International Police (Interpol), relatives and all officers who coordinated these efforts in all capacities from the day of the crash to today’s memorial function.
MAY HER SOUL REST IN ETERNAL PEACE
J.M.OKOTH-OCHOLA, (ESQ)
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE
