Police ordered MP Sempala’s arrest

Sep 23, 2008

OLD Kampala Police chief Moses Mwanga yesterday told the committee probing into the force’s conduct that he arrested MP Nabilah Sempala on orders from his superiors.

By Paul Kiwuuwa

OLD Kampala Police chief Moses Mwanga yesterday told the committee probing into the force’s conduct that he arrested MP Nabilah Sempala on orders from his superiors.

Pressed to disclose his superiors, Mwanga replied: “I am sorry, I can’t disclose my source. In my opinion her arrest was justified because she had a case to answer.”

Mwanga confirmed that some of the Police officers who carried out the operation were trainees.

The committee is probing into Police conduct following the arrests of MPs Nabilah Sempala (Woman Central), Suzan Nampijja (Lubaga South) and David Lyomoki (Workers).

The committee also ordered Mwanga to release the public address system, which was confiscated from Sempala when she went to Owino market to allegedly distribute suggestion boxes.

The committee chairperson, Peter Nyombi (Independent), asked Mwanga how he got information that Sempala was planning to address a rally.

“Since Sempala had a public address system, I suspected that she was planning to address a public rally instead of distributing suggestion boxes,” Mwanga replied.
“The Police probe has a public address system, does it mean we are going to address a public rally?” Nyombi asked

Mwanga replied: “I got exclusive information one hour prior to Sempala’s arrest that she was planning to address a public rally, which was dangerous to her life because Owino is a deadly place.”

Mwanga also said Sempala did not seek Police permission to hold the alleged rally.

He said Sempala used the suggestion boxes as a scapegoat.

Mwanga also said Sempala hit one of the Police officers with the suggestion box and encouraged the public to beat up the personnel.

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