LUWERO – Twenty-seven Police officers in Luwero district are on suspension for alleged abuse of office and gross misconduct.
The implicated officers are accused of extorting money from suspects, mismanaging cases, executing illegal arrests, theft of exhibits, and alcoholism among other cases of indiscipline.
The latest case involves the suspension of the O/C of a post who was reported by leaders of Kalagala sub-county for alcoholism and incompetence. The officer has since been recalled to Luwero Central Police Station for administrative action.
Patrick Lule, the Savannah Region acting Police Spokesperson revealed that some of the officers were facing administrative sanctions whereas others have appeared before courts to defend themselves in criminal cases.
An officer at Savannah Regional Police Professional Standards Unit, who preferred anonymity, said that the cases against officers were likely to reach 70 because there were new entries missing on the list.
“We have received cases of Police officers accused of stealing exhibits, case mismanagement, and extortion among others.
“Our role is to investigate and make recommendations to District Police Commanders to take action,” said the source.
Richard Bwabye, the Luwero Resident District Commissioner, noted that some of the bad actions of the implicated officer had tainted the government’s image in the community.
Bwabye said the District Security Committee had passed a resolution banning commanders of police stations from conducting non-intelligence led operations after getting information that some of such tasks were being used to extort money from residents as opposed to fighting crime.
David Kalungi, the Kamira sub-county LCV Councillor noted that last year, armed thugs robbed him of Ugx9m but he later learnt that the assailant was a police officer.
Kalungi revealed further that detectives had demanded for a lot of money – in bribes – to investigate the attack, and the only option was to lose interest after learning that the key suspect was a policeman. “Right now what I know is policemen are part of thugs that terrorise us – so something must be done to clean the force,” said Kalungi.
In 2022, the police leadership expelled 153 officers across the country for their continuous involvement in corruption as well as other cases of indiscipline.
Assailants Brutally Kill Man in Masindi
Meanwhile, police in Masindi have launched a manhunt for unknown aggressors, who on Sunday killed John Byaruhanga, a resident of Kisonga village in Bikonzi parish, Bikonzi sub-county.
It is alleged that the assailants assaulted the deceased at around 10:00pm on Christmas on his way home.
It is said that the goons, armed with sticks and machetes ambushed Byaruhanga – leaving him for dead. Byaruhanga was rushed to Hoima Regional Referral Hospital where he died on Monday. Christopher Mukidi, a resident of the area said that Byaruhanga was heard screaming for help, only to be found lying unconscious by the roadside.
Patrick Kasangaki, another resident revealed that the deceased had no grudge against anyone in the village, calling upon the police to expedite investigations to ensure that the culprits were arrested and prosecuted, accordingly.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson said investigations into the incident had commenced, appealing to members of the public to cooperate with security by availing vital information that could lead to the arrest and detention of the suspects.
Additional report by URN
