Sheema district police boss in court today
Nov 14, 2011
THE Sheema district police commander Jonathan Mugisha is to appear before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala today over bribe allegations.
By Fred Turyakira
THE Sheema district police commander Jonathan Mugisha is to appear before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala today (Monday) over allegations of soliciting and receiving a sh400,000 bribe.
Mugisha was arrested on Friday for allegedly receiving the said amount of money from Pison Kamugisha, a crime preventer in order to integrate him into police force.
Mugisha’s arrest followed the recent arrest of Ntungamo Grade II Magistrate, Gaston Kamugisha, who also reportedly received a bribe of sh400, 000 from a suspect last month (October).
Mugisha was arrested by police detectives attached to the office of Inspector General of Government (IGG) and Police Professional Standards Unit (PSU).
It is alleged that Kamugisha complained to the IGG regional office in Mbarara after Mugisha had asked him to pay the balance of sh400, 000.
Shortly after handing over the money to Mugisha, the IGG officers stormed his office in Kabwohe town council and arrested him.
Dressed in a police uniform, he tried to explain himself before he was whisked off to Mbarara police station under police custody for a night and transferred to Kampala on Saturday.
A police officer, who preferred anonymity for the safety of his job, said Mugisha had reportedly demanded sh500, 000 from Kamugisha and wanted him to pay the balance within a week.
Some colleagues of the detained officer cited malice, saying he was framed to tarnish his name after he had management issues with the Mugisha.
Samson Kitutu, head of Mbarara Regional Inspectorate Office, confirmed Mugisha’s arrest but could not reveal the details of his arrest and the names of the complainant, saying it would affect their investigations.
“We have been tracking him after his junior police officer complained to us. We teamed up with police. The Professional Standards Unit commandant, Sam Kyomukama instructed his officers in Mbarara and successfully executed the arrest,” Kitutu explained.
Kyomukama could not be reached for any comment as he declined to pick up his call.