In what seems like a move to salvage the tainted police image of past weeks, the Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura, has transferred officers who participated in beating up Dr. Kizza Besigye’s supporters along Entebbe and Gayaza roads.
Kayihura has thus sent, Abbas Byakagaba together with his deputy Stephen Tanui to Senior Command and Staff College as Commandant and Deputy respectively.
Byakagaba will be replaced by Frank Mwesigwa the commandant of Police Training School-Kabalye in Masindi district .He will be deputized by Ezekiel Emitu who has also been his deputy.
Deputy Police spokesperson, Polly Namaye, confirmed the new developments but downplayed the cause of transfers of the officer saying ‘it’s a normal police deployment’.
The has been a public outcry especially on social media with many calling for the resignation of the police which over what they called gross violations of human rights. The police beating happened when former presidential candidate had been granted bail by the High Court two weeks ago. Video footages showed police officers aboard their vehicles lashing at people standing along the roadsides as they waved to Besigye’s convoy.
Two law firms have also filled cases in courts against Kayihura about the same matter.
This move by the Kayihura has also affected are some senior officers accused of who were arrigned in a Police disciplinary court over the same matter and those facing other offences.
This includes Andrew Kaggwa, who has been the commander of Kampala Metropolitan Police South pending conclusion of the disciplinary proceedings against him for brutality and hence tainting the image of the force.
Others are Samuel Bamuzibire, the KMP Field Force Unit commander; Moses Nanoka, the Wandegeya Division police commander; and Patrick Muhumuza, the KMP South operations commander, over the same issue. Aaron Baguma, the commander of Kampala Central Police Station, has also been removed and replaced by Joseph Bakaleke. The Director of Public Prosecutions sanctioned murder charges of Donah Betty Katushabe against Baguma.
In the same message,Moses Kafeero, who has been the commandant of Senior Command and Staff College has been sent to Rwanda for a course.Michael Mugabi, who has been on a course, is now the commandant of Police Training School-Kabalye Masindi District.
