Three cops arrested over suspect's death in cells

By Aloysius Byamukama

Three police officers have been arrested in connection with the mysterious death of a suspect in police cells.

The three, whose names are yet to be revealed, were officers in charge of Rwanyamukinya station in Kashozi Sub-County, Sheema District.

It’s said that Bernard Muhoozi, a resident of Kyabandaara, was Tuesday arrested by the Rwanyamukinya Police officers for assaulting his LCI chairman known only as Samuel.

However, Muhoozi was found dead today Wednesday morning in the cell, of what the three police officers said was due to illness.

Muhoozi is said to have assaulted Samuel, and when he reported the matter to Police, Muhoozi was arrested and thereafter agreed to settle the matter out of court by paying the complainant sh300,000 as compensation.

But it is said that Muhoozi first paid sh150,000 and on the day of finishing off the last installment (yesterday), Muhoozi did not appear at the station, which forced the police to go and arrest him.

He was allegedly locked up, according to the report given by the three officers, where they later found him dead this morning.

A resident, who declined to have his name published, said Muhoozi died due to the alleged severe torture he went through at the hands of the cops.

However, Greater Bushenyi Regional Police chief Hillary Kurayigye said the officers in charge were negligent, adding that if it’s true that the suspect was sick, he should have been given a bond, or his state reported to the authorities.

Kulayigye confirmed the three officers in question have since been arrested but declined to give the details of the arrests.

By press time, Muhoozi’s body was still lying in the mortuary at a nearby Kabwohe town clinic waiting a postmortem.