The Director of Human Resources in the Uganda Force Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Andrew Kaweesi has come under fire for the actions of his charges.
Over the past one month the police has attracted the wrath of several Ugandans, after images of officers indiscriminately beating up opposition kingpin Dr Kizza Besigye’s supporters, were screened on TV.
And today while appearing on an NBS TV talk show, Democratic Party President Norbert Mao and human rights activist Miria Matembe took on AIGP Kaweesi, telling him that the beatings are unacceptable.
Mr Mao asked Kaweesi to apologise on behalf of the force, while Matembe railed the police officer’s defence of their actions.
‘Why is Kaweesi defending this nonsense? Ugandans should be allowed to be human,” Matembe asked, and added that the Inspector General of Police Gen Kale Kayihura is currently acting contrary to what took him to the bush.
‘Kayihura has turned into the very thing he fought,’ the outspoken former minister of ethics, said.
However, Kaweesi put up a spirited defence in favour of his boss, arguing that Gen Kayihura did not physically participate in the beating. Kaweesi further said that those implicated were facing disciplinary action.
“IGP didn’t beat anybody. Officers who erred are being held accountable”, Kaweesi said, while insisting that the police acted lawfully.
Currently, IGP Kayihura and senior police officers SSP Andrew Kagwa, SSP Samuel Bamuzibire, ASP Patrick Muhumuza and police constables Willy Kalyango, Sula Kato, Dennis Muhangi, Moses Agaba and crime preventer Dan Tandeka, are facing the police disciplinary court chaired by SCP Dennis Odongpiny. Other officers facing charges include James Ruhweza and Moses Nanoka.
The officers were also sued by a group of 20 lawyers led by counsel Abdullah Kiwanuka and have been summoned to appear before the Makindye Magistrate’s court to face criminal charges.
Meanwhile, Gen Kayihura is on a working visit to Kenya, where he has met and held talks with his counterpart Joseph Boinnet.
