Robert Mukebezi, the police constable whose right leg was amputated on Tuesday at Victoria Hospital is set to be treated, counselled and compensated and will later be given duty that does not impede his work.
This was stated by Asan Kasingye, the Uganda Police Force political commissar.
Mukebezi, was shot and injured on Sunday by a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier in Ntinda, Kampala.
He was later amputated by doctors in what they described as a measure to save his life.
On Wednesday, doctors from Victoria Hospital said that Mukebezi had responded well to treatment and that the operation to amputate his leg was successful.
According to Kasingye, even though Mukebezi was not so senior, Police would look for staff duties that do not require him to stand for long hours.
“We are going to treat this young man. We shall ensure that he is counselled and rehabilitated, then assign him a duty that will not exert more pain on his body,” Kasingye said.
Kasingye further noted that Mukebezi is entitled to workman’s compensation.
“It’s money given when someone gets injured while on duty, but that is handled by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. Our director of legal is going to get all the documentation that explains circumstances under which Mukebezi was injured, then forward it to the gender ministry for compensation.
It is little money, but what is important is that the force takes over all the medical funding for the limb and any other treatment and rehabilitation he may need, either inside the country or abroad,” Kasingye added.
He further noted that when one is injured in the line of duty, he is treated and taken care of by the force.
“We have a number of officers whose legs were amputated but they have remained in service. One of the officer’s legs was shattered by a landmine in Kasese when he was the Divisional Police Commander at the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police and now, he is a senior commissioner and director. We have another one in Wandegeya in the Criminal Investigation Directorate, he was amputated, but he is there working,” Kasingye said.
He further noted that such officers are treated and for those who need artificial limbs, they are supported to get them and they continue working.
Yesterday, in a tweet made by journalist Canary Mugume, the UPDF claims that they arrested Maj Alpha Okua over the shooting of police officer Robert Mukebezi, last weekend.
However, according to Maj Okua, it was corporal Bashir Mango Babaginda who is still at large, that fired the bullets.