Luke Kercan Ofungi

MR. LUKE KERCHAN OFUNGI born March 29, 1934 was an Inspector General in the Uganda Police Force and, a successful businessman in the travel industry in Uganda and an elder of the Alur tribe in Uganda.

Early years and Police.

He was born in Padolo, Okoro, Nebbi district. He joined the E. African Orthodox School in 1951-1953 and completed junior secondary three. On 1/10/1954, he joined Police as Recruit Police Constable at Police Training School Kibuli as No. 5909 PPC. On 1/1/1957 was promoted to Corporal. Two years later, on 1/8/1959, he was promoted to Sergeant. On 1/6/1960 he was promoted to Station Sergeant. On 1/2/1961, he was promoted to sub Inspector and transferred to Arua Special Branch.

On 1/4/1963, he was promoted to Inspector of Police and sent to UK for a course on 1/9/1963. On 1/10/1963, he was promoted to gazetted rank of Assistant Superintended of Police. On 5/9/1964 was transferred from Arua to Fort Portal Special Branch. He served in Toro until 8/6/65 when he was transferred to Special Branch Headquarters Kampala. On 1/10/1970, he was promoted to Superintendent of Police. On 13/5/1973 he was promoted to Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police. On 1/1/1974, he was appointed Commissioner of Police (Equivalent to the rank of Inspector General). Mr. Odria Gabriel replaced him.

Mr. Alli Toweli was made his Deputy. Mr. George William Luzide Mukasa appointed Director of CID and Mr. Aisu was made Director of special Branch. On 1/8/1974, he was sent on leave by President Idi Amin after defying the late dictator openly at a security meeting. Knowing that his life was in danger, Mr. Ofungi fled across the border with his family to an exile in Nairobi.

After the fall of Amin's regime, he was On 9/10/1979, appointed Deputy Inspector General of Police to help in re-organizing the Police Force. He was later sent to Nairobi in Foreign Service. On 15/5/1980, was appointed Inspector General of Police up to 1/5/1981. On 1/11/1985, he was again re-appointed Inspector General of Police and officially took over on 20/11/1985. He was sent on leave with his two Deputies, Mr. Kyefulumya DIGP Administration and Mr. Maswere DIGP Operations. He passed away on 4/9/1990 and government posthumously appointed him on contract effective 1/11/1989 for 24 months.

His professionalism and neutrality during a turbulent time for Uganda shines through the fact that Mr. Ofungi as the Inspector General of Police is known to have served in the same post in four regimes. He died before being resinstated to the post for the 5th time on 04/09/1990.