Nine police officers and a crime preventer have been found guilty and convicted for beating Dr Kizza Besigye’s supporters along Namasole road in Najjanakumbi and Kalerwe as the 2016 presidential candidate returned home after being granted bail.
This July 13th, 2016 incident saw officers ‘brutally’ beat and disperse off crowds using sticks, an act that placed Uganda police on the spotlight internationally, with strong condemnation that soon ignited pressure for court trial.
They on Thursday appeared before Police Disciplinary Court, and in the judgement read by Police Court chairman, Denis Odongpiny, the officers were convicted on three counts of excessive use of force, neglect of duty and discreditable conduct, which are all contrary to the Police Penal Code Act.
On the charges of use of excessive force, all charged police officers were fined and their gross salary reduced by a third (1/3) for one month. On the charge of neglect of duty, all eight police officers were sentenced to severe reprimand, the Observer reports.
Denis delivered his ruling, which revealed that on the count of discreditable conduct, SSP Andrew Kaggwa, SP Moses Nanoka and ASP Patrick Muhumuza were demoted by one rank.
He further ruled that police constables who have no rank should be dismissed by the police council.
Dan Tandeka, a crime preventer, was barred from doing any police-related work for the next 20 years. After delivering the sentence, Odongpiny said the defaulters have the right to appeal to the appellant court of police within 14 days.
Speaking to the tri-weekly Newspaper, demoted senior officer Andrew Kagwa, then Kampala Metropolitan Police South Commander said that a fall in rank will not lead him to committing suicide.
“I joined as a constable and reached this rank in 19 years; so, I can also begin from IP and get promoted to even a higher rank,” he said.
He was however disappointed and hurt that the people who gave them orders were never charged.
“I executed my bosses’ orders but to my surprise I was demoted and they were never even called in court,” he said.
Elsewhere, FDC’s Dr Kizza Besigye is not content with the punishment the officers received, terming it as ‘extremely light’
“Very clearly, these are extremely light punishments considering the pain, injuries (physical & mental) and torture they inflicted on innocent Ugandans that pay and maintain them, believing that they’ll protect them,” said Besigye to Journalists on Thursday.
“Beyond the direct suffering inflicted on their victims, the whole country was cast in terrible light by the actions of these “police officers and men”. No reasonable person that saw the horrific images in the media can get on an airplane and come to Uganda as a tourist or investor.” He added.
marvin@ugchristiannews.com
