Details Emerge About Man Who Drew Pistol at Traffic Policeman

Details have emerged about a man who drew a pistol at a traffic policeman on Speke Road in Kampala.

The incident happened on Tuesday according to one of the police officers who were near the scene. Uganda Radio Network has since established that the man who pulled out the pistol is Richard Namara, a bodyguard to retired military Capt (rtd) Joseph Kamusiime.

Trouble started after Namara had dropped his boss at Kampala Serena Hotel in motor vehicle UBC 605B a Toyota Corolla white in colour. A policeman at the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police said that Namara chose to drive in a one way.

“He was intercepted along with Standard Chartered Bank roundabout by a traffic officer Clement Omoding, however, he instead pulled out his pistol pointing it to Omoding, “a policeman said.

Constable Omoding was saved by his colleagues who were nearby including two Field Force Unit –FFU policemen. The police officers subdued Namara and removed a pistol from him. He was taken to Kampala Central Police Station.

Sources told URN that upon learning about the incident, Capt Kamusiime arrived at CPS and engaged the traffic policeman. The matters were reportedly resolved in the night and Namara was released unconditionally.

“He was arrested and the motor vehicle impounded. It has been established that the gun in question was for his boss rtd Capt Joseph Kamusiime whom he dropped at Serena Hotel but had left the weapon in the car. The matter was resolved and he was left to go uncharged,” a police source said.

The Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, said he has not informed anything about how the matter was resolved and thus he could not speak about it.

But the Assistant Inspector General of Police Asan Kasingye had earlier taken to Twitter describing the incident as a sign of disrespect.

“He pulls a pistol against a traffic officer at Speke road. This kamanyiro against officers of the law must stop,” Kasingye said.

This is not the first incident where military officers or their bodyguards have assaulted traffic police officers.

In 2019, bodyguards of Rtd Maj Gen Matayo Kyaligonza assaulted Sgt Esther Namaganda after she condemned them for making a turn at a wrong point of the road at Seeta town in Mukono district.

Last year, the late Maj Gen Paul Lokech slapped Kampala North traffic commander, Ruth Kyobutungi. But the case was resolved at CPS with the intervention of Moses Kafeero, who was then Kampala Police Commander.