A Boda-boda operator in Bududa district is crying out for compensation from
government after he was allegedly shot by David Agaba Tumwine, the then Bududa District
Police Commander.
Desmond Kuloba, a resident of Bunaembe cell in Bududa town
council says on 28th march this year he was picked at his home while talking
about the then police brutality in the district during enforcement of Covid-19 guidelines by a team headed by David Agaba who was commanding police.
He says he was then intercepted,
flogged, and finally shot by the DPC.
He says he has tried to seek redress from police but in vain and does
not know the progress of the matter as police at the region have become silent. So he is crying out to the government for compensation.
Patrick Bwayo, the victim's brother, says he met the police officer who shot
his brother but could hardly do anything to him because he was armed. He says
his brother is now lame and he cannot ride the motorcycle again, so they are begging the government to come to his rescue.
//Cue in: “ari
nu mununu….Cue out ….baramamo
kimilimo kyawe
George Warawa Tsama the father of the victim says his son used to get 'food' out of the Boda-boda but since then their family is starving and they can no
longer easily get what to eat because the leg is still sick and he can hardly do
anything to benefit the family. He asked government to look into the matter of
his son because Justice is needed for every Ugandan.
He says in most cases, police officers who commit offences are
just transferred to other stations rather than being detained and later charged
as it happens to other people. He said when this is done then people shall share a
common goal with the government.
Cue in: “It
is capital offence…Cue out: …Iyete
omwana oyu”//.
Wilson Watira the Bududa district Chairperson regretted the
incident saying they expect police to act in a professional way. He said when someone
commits an offence, the law empowers a police office to arrest the offender no to
shot or kill. He condemned the acts of the then district police commander
saying he received a number of complaints about his leadership at the station
which were not pleasing. He therefore asks government to help the complainant
so that justice can prevail.
//Cue in: “it
is sad… Cue out: ….such a person”//.
However, a source from Bududa central police station that
preferred anonymity because they are not allowed to speak to the media told URN
that the file was sanctioned sometime back and Agabais supposed to appear in
court to answer charges of unlawful wounding.
The source added that after Bududa Agaba was
transferred to Naguru and is working in Human Resource office.
Rogers Taitika the Elgon Region police spokes person however referred
us to the acting police spokesperson since he is still on sick leave since he
got an accident.
However, John Robert Tukei the acting spokesperson Elgon told URN
that for them as police they do not abandon cases only that the complainants
need to follow up with their cases. He regretted having lost track for the case
but he said they have a professional standards Unit at Mbale where the
complainant should follow up his case.
//Cue in: “at
the moment…Cue out: …not
helping him”//.
Andrew Nakhaboya
Freelancer