Police probes Kazini on assault
Mar 02, 2008
The Police are investigating former army commander Maj. Gen. James Kazini over allegations that he assaulted a doctor in Kampala yesterday morning.
By Steven Candia and Henry Ssenyondo
The Police are investigating former army commander Maj. Gen. James Kazini over allegations that he assaulted a doctor in Kampala yesterday morning.
Dr. Robert Kagoda of JBK medical Centre in Buziga lodged a complaint at Kabalagala Police Station, shortly after he had been beaten with a gun in Buziga, a Kampala suburb.
In the 7:00am incident in Katuso zone, the former army boss, said to have been in a violent fit of rage reportedly fired in the air and assaulted a bodaboda cyclist.
The cyclist had only minutes earlier dropped a woman, only identified as Winnie, whom witnesses said Kazini had gone to visit.
Upon her return, Kazini is said to have chased Winnie around the compound before getting a pistol from his car, firing in the air and assaulting both the cyclist and the doctor.
The cinema-like episode unfolded in the compound of an apartment building, drawing the attention of hordes of early risers.
In his account, Dr. Kagoda, who is a neighbour of Winnie, said he had woken up early to clean his vehicle, having returned from the village late the previous night.
“I had brought some foodstuffs, some of which had remained in the car,†he told The New Vision.
“At about 7:00am, someone pulled up in a Mercedes Benz, parked by the road side and started hooting. After about five minutes, the man, whom I then identified as Kazini, stepped out and called me.â€
The former army boss asked the doctor if he knew Winnie and whether she was at home. He then asked him to knock at Winnie’s door, Kagoda narrated.
“The house help opened. I asked for Winnie. She told me Winnie was not at home. I then told her to go and talk to the man who had come to see Winnie. She went and talked to him. Moments later, he was furious.â€
Kazini then allegedly went around the building and returned with a lady, who addressed him as Afande.
He ordered the woman to search the doctor’s car and clinic, before driving off, Kagoda added.
At that time, Winnie arrived on a bodaboda. Upon seeing Kazini, she asked the cyclist to ride past, only to return shortly after he had left.
“It is then that she called Kazini on phone and he returned. She went over to him and an exchange of words ensued. He slapped her, accusing her of infidelity,†Dr. Kagoda said.
In the presence of the cyclist and the doctor, the former army commander pulled out his gun from the car. He first assaulted the boda boda cyclist, witnesses said. He then turned to the doctor, ordered him out of his car and hit him with the gun on the head, witnesses narrated.
Kagoda yesterday said he had recorded a statement at the Kabalagala police Station and handed over his blood-soaked shirt as an exhibit. The station boss, Raphael Egwau, said he had received a report of an assault case. “I was told that someone was beaten by Kazini but I have to meet the detective handling the file before I can make any comment,†Egwau said.
Kazini is on trial in the general court martial over salaries paid to non-existent soldiers.
The Police are investigating former army commander Maj. Gen. James Kazini over allegations that he assaulted a doctor in Kampala yesterday morning.
Dr. Robert Kagoda of JBK medical Centre in Buziga lodged a complaint at Kabalagala Police Station, shortly after he had been beaten with a gun in Buziga, a Kampala suburb.
In the 7:00am incident in Katuso zone, the former army boss, said to have been in a violent fit of rage reportedly fired in the air and assaulted a bodaboda cyclist.
The cyclist had only minutes earlier dropped a woman, only identified as Winnie, whom witnesses said Kazini had gone to visit.
Upon her return, Kazini is said to have chased Winnie around the compound before getting a pistol from his car, firing in the air and assaulting both the cyclist and the doctor.
The cinema-like episode unfolded in the compound of an apartment building, drawing the attention of hordes of early risers.
In his account, Dr. Kagoda, who is a neighbour of Winnie, said he had woken up early to clean his vehicle, having returned from the village late the previous night.
“I had brought some foodstuffs, some of which had remained in the car,†he told The New Vision.
“At about 7:00am, someone pulled up in a Mercedes Benz, parked by the road side and started hooting. After about five minutes, the man, whom I then identified as Kazini, stepped out and called me.â€
The former army boss asked the doctor if he knew Winnie and whether she was at home. He then asked him to knock at Winnie’s door, Kagoda narrated.
“The house help opened. I asked for Winnie. She told me Winnie was not at home. I then told her to go and talk to the man who had come to see Winnie. She went and talked to him. Moments later, he was furious.â€
Kazini then allegedly went around the building and returned with a lady, who addressed him as Afande.
He ordered the woman to search the doctor’s car and clinic, before driving off, Kagoda added.
At that time, Winnie arrived on a bodaboda. Upon seeing Kazini, she asked the cyclist to ride past, only to return shortly after he had left.
“It is then that she called Kazini on phone and he returned. She went over to him and an exchange of words ensued. He slapped her, accusing her of infidelity,†Dr. Kagoda said.
In the presence of the cyclist and the doctor, the former army commander pulled out his gun from the car. He first assaulted the boda boda cyclist, witnesses said. He then turned to the doctor, ordered him out of his car and hit him with the gun on the head, witnesses narrated.
Kagoda yesterday said he had recorded a statement at the Kabalagala police Station and handed over his blood-soaked shirt as an exhibit. The station boss, Raphael Egwau, said he had received a report of an assault case. “I was told that someone was beaten by Kazini but I have to meet the detective handling the file before I can make any comment,†Egwau said.
Kazini is on trial in the general court martial over salaries paid to non-existent soldiers.