Background
Erinayo Oryema was born on January 1, 1917, at Anaka Payira, Kilaka County, Acholi district.
Erinayo Oryema was born on January 1, 1917, at Anaka Payira, Kilaka County, Acholi district.
Educated at Gulu High School from 1927 to 1931, going on to Buwalasi Teachers’ Training College and starting to teach in 1933 in Gulu High School and other establishments in West Acholi. He furthered his education by correspondence courses and became a policeman in 1939, just before the war, when he was seconded to the King’s African Rifles. He rejoined the police force as a sergeant in 1945. After a course at Hendon Police College in Britain in 1952, he became Assistant Superintendent of Police. He did another senior police officers’ course in Britain in 1958 and with Uganda’s independence was promoted Deputy Inspector-General of Police in 1963.
Erinayo Wilson Oryema began his career as a teacher. In 1935 he graduated from Buwalasi Teacher Training College in Mbale, after which he was posted to Gulu Primary School in Northern Uganda. He taught at the primary schools in Gulu and Kitgum between 1936 and 1939, and later became School Master.
Erinayo Wilson Oryema then enlisted in the Uganda Police Force in 1939. A year later he was promoted to the rank of Corporal, and the following year to Sub-Inspector. During World War II, he enlisted in the King's African Rifles Regiment and after the war ended, he returned to the Uganda Police Force. He made Inspector of Police in 1951, and was listed in the Queen's birthday honours in 1952, receiving the Colonial Police Medal for exemplary service. He was promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1954, and in 1956 to Deputy Superintendent.
When the colonial government started identifying African officers to take over the leadership of the force, Oryema was promoted to the rank of Superintendent in 1961, and the following year to Senior Superintendent of Police, then to Assistant Commissioner of Police. In 1963 Oryema was appointed the first African Deputy Inspector General of Police, and the following year, Inspector General of Police. He served in that capacity until 1971. In 1971, Oryema was appointed Minister of Minerals and Water Resources, and from 1976 he served as a Minister of Lands, Housing and Physical Planning.
A self-made man who largely educated himself and worked his way up the police force emerging as a polished and urbane officer in one of the best run forces in colonial times. Shortly after independence he became Inspector-General of Police and resisted President Obote’s attempts to set up parallel security organisations and erode police power. After the Uganda coup he assured General Amin of police support and was made a minister.