“The Police have instituted inquiries in response to a video footage that emerged of a police pick-up, appearing to have knocked and brushed a man to the roadside,” says CP Fred Enanga, in a statement released Sunday.
This video was captured by an N-reporter Henry Nsubuga as FDC’s Dr. Kizza Besigye drove through Kyebando, a suburb of Kampala a few days ago.
In the video, a police car knocks down a man standing by the side of the road and drives away. Another man in plain clothes tramples the man as he struggles to get to his feet.
Fred Enanga says that the video by a civilian journalist was kept quiet until when it was released yesterday by the media.
“We do admit that the alleged actions by the police driver in the video footage are concerning and highly regrettable by management. As a result, the Professional Standards Unit (PSU), upon reviewing the footage, is working hard to identify the victim, the police pick-up, its driver and car commander, which officers will have to be suspended from operational duties, pending outcome of the investigations,” says Enanga
They will in addition, use the video to justify evidence of professional misconduct by selected officers undergoing disciplinary court processes.
“Although, many questions about our policing and accountability have been asked in the last one month, we highly encourage the filming and release of videos on sensitive police related incidents, as a very important step in promoting transparency in the course of our duties; provided it does not interfere with a police officer on duty, and or refusal to obey a lawful order, obstruct an arrest or police action among others,” he further states
“This is consistent with our commitment to increased transparency through various rectification campaigns, which is essential in rebuilding and strengthening our trust with the public’s we police,”
“We are meanwhile engaging and re-engaging our officers on the minimum use of force, through better communication especially intense and fast moving public order policing situations. For this we are confident of our ability to continue protecting the safety and security of all Ugandans and visitors, whom we request not to judge the entire police force by the actions of a few bad officers.”
editor@ugchristiannews.com
