By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni yesterday ordered the arrest and handcuffing of Nateete Police chief Robert Semata for his participation in the recent eviction of tenants from Busega, a Kampala suburb.

A visibly angry Museveni also ordered the arrest of Kampala businessman Davis Kakwenzire who used the Police to evict the family, headed by Perepetwa Nalumoso, as well as the demolition of part of a building in Nateete trading centre.

Museveni was yesterday visiting the area to comfort the family whose house had been destroyed on Saturday night. The President gave sh50m to those affected.

Businessman Kakwenzire claims to have bought the plot and property from Nalumoso. But the relatives of Nalumoso dispute the sale. Kakwenzire, accompanied by the Police chief and four constables, allegedly beat up the tenants during the eviction. Four members of the family sustained injuries.

Semata was not at the scene when the President ordered his arrest. Museveni asked the security officers to produce him so that he could be handcuffed in public. Fifteen minutes later, Semata was brought before the President.

The shaken officer was stripped off his pips and belt and then handcuffed by superintendent of Police Moses Kafeero. Semata, along with Constable Swaley Moses, were bundled onto a Police patrol truck and taken to the Central Police Station.

“We are arresting these people for using force in handling this matter. The court will decide who owns the property and if the eviction was lawful,” the President told an excited crowd. There was drama when Kakwenzire resisted arrest. But plain-clothes security whisked him away as the residents cheered.

Kakwenzire tried to plead but the President insisted that he should be taken away. He was driven to the Central Police Station where he was still held by press time. The President warned the Police against arbitrary use of authority to carry out eviction orders at night.

“Everyone who is involved in the mishandling of this case will be put in prison. We can not allow people to misuse their authority. I am very annoyed about the way this matter was handled.”

He also said the High Court registrar who issued the eviction order will be investigated.

“If we find that he was in the wrong, we shall put him in. This is unacceptable. I have come to sympathise with the residents of Rubaga and the affected family members who were beaten and lost their property,” he said.

“While the court will determine who the owner is of this property, those who used force to demolish this house should be seen in handcuffs. Justice should not only be done, it should be seen to be done.” Even if the executors had been cleared by the court, they should have done it in a humane way, he argued.

“They should have involved the local leaders and this should have been done during the day and not come at night to terrorise people.”

The President has appointed a team, headed by Col. Nalweyiso, to investigate the case.

During his inspection tour of the four divisions of Kampala, Museveni also urged the residents to help the Government fight corruption.

“All of you should report to the authorities whenever a public official asks for a bribe.”

He appealed to the public to clean up the dirt in Kampala city. “How long are we going to stay in this filth? Today, I am a tour guide to show KCC and Government officials how dirty this town is.”

He emphasised that all divisions of Kampala district should gazette specific areas for garbage disposal.

The President was accompanied by works minister John Nasasira, local government minister Adolf Mwesige and the Minister for the Presidency, Beatrice Wabudeya.

Also present were town clerk Ruth Kijjambu, deputy mayor, Florence Namayanja and Kampala RDC Alice Muwanguzi.