The Speaker of Parliament Ms Rebecca Kadaga has summoned the Minister of Internal Affairs Gen Jeje Odongo to present a report to parliament over investigations about police officers who assaulted Mr Rajiv Ruparelia.
Mr Ruparelia, the son to property mogul Sudhir Ruparelia last Friday was assaulted by the anti-terrorism police near his home in Kololo.
During yesterday’s afternoon plenary sitting, Mr Ruparelia’s matter was brought to the attention of the House by Kasilo County MP Elijah Okupa who said there was need for the Minister of Internal Affairs to brief the country on what action the police force had taken against officers who allegedly attacked the businessman.
Police has come under the spot after gangs suspected to be police officers violently attacked Rajiv. They attempted to run over him as he was jogging in the leafy suburb of Kololo near the gate of his father.
Shortly after the incident, Police claimed it had launched expeditious investigations and would release a detailed report but five days later, authorities in the Force remained muted over the status of the probe and if it was started anyway.
Police has failed to explain why operatives claiming to be its officers were camouflaged in plain-clothes and recklessly driving an unmarked vehicle in a residential neighbourhood.
Police officers, driving at break neck speed tried to knock down Rajiv but he quickly dashed off the road, though his dogs and a dog handler were left nursing serious injuries and had to be rushed to hospital in order to save their lives.
Rajiv was concerned because there has been a public outcry about negative elements in the Police that engage in criminal activities like exhortation while also operating hit squads.
Commenting on the incident, Rajiv wrote on Facebook that the attack was partly racially motivated because he simply questioned why Police officers were moving in an unmarked car and driving recklessly in a residential neighbourhood.
“I stopped to tell them that it was not safe for anybody to ride that fast in a residential neighbourhood. I and my dogs were walking and I asked why an individual can drive that recklessly in a residential neighbourhood. I requested in a simple way but an officer angrily responded to me that this is not India, this is Uganda. This was a racial attack, “Mr Rajiv wrote on Facebook.
