As discussions continue among Ugandans over Major General Mataayo Kyaligonza’s slapping of a Police woman, People Power doyen Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi has today reminded the Uganda Police Force on how he is fighting for the dignity of the force and not against the Police, and how he has long told them so.
“Remember when I said, Afande, we are not fighting you. We are fighting for you. This is what I meant. Uganda Police, We are fighting for you. We are fighting for your dignity. For yourwell-being. We are fighting so that you can be respected in your country-in your uniform.” Bobi Wine says in a social media post.
This comes after Esther Namaganda, a traffic police officer, was assaulted by Major General Matayo Kyaligonza at Seeta on Sunday. Namaganda said the general grabbed her and slapped her on the ears.
According to Namaganda, she was calling Vehicles from Mukono going to Kampala when all of a sudden she saw a black Prado indicating [that it wanted to turn].
“I told the driver don’t make a U-turn from here. Proceed to the petrol station and make a proper turning. He insisted, then shortly I saw army men getting out of the vehicle. They came and grabbed me. I saw another person in civilian clothes that came and told me: ‘Why are you disturbing us?’ He wanted to pluck off my ranks. Then two people grabbed me and Kyaligonza slapped me into the ears. I felt dizzy and if one of my colleagues had not grabbed me, I would have fallen down”.
In a tweet,the Army spokesperson Brig. Richard Karemeire tweeted:
“We have been informed of the incident involving a Traffic Police Sergeant and UPDF Military Police soldiers. It is very regrettable and we extend apologies to our Police sister. UPDF and UPF are establishing the facts. Findings will guide action to be taken”
Yesterday evening, the UPDF arrested Kyaligonza’s body guards: Peter Bushindiki and John Robert Okurut. They are being detained at Makindye Military barracks.
Kyaligonza is Uganda’s High commissioner to Burundi and is not new to controversy. In the late 1980s, he roughed up a police officer at Jinja Road Police Station who was trying to interrogate him.