I have resigned from Police, says Kirumira

PIC: Muhammad Kirumira served in a number of positions in Police. He announced his resignation on Wednesday. (File photo by Rogers Kibirige)

SECURITY

KAMPALA - Muhammad Kirumira, who has been the Buyende District Police Commander (DPC), has announced his resignation from the Uganda Police Force.

Kirumira made the announcement on his Facebook page on Wednesday, citing frustrations from top Police bosses in his work.

In a statement, Kirumira said his recent arraignment before the Police disciplinary committee court in Naguru, Kampala was part of a plan to paint him as a criminal.

At the time, the police commander was charged with extortion, corruption, bribery, torture, unlawful arrests and excessive use of authority.

Kirumira, who previously served as officer in charge of Nansana Police Station, described the charges as framed up and that they were as old as seven years old.

He said he had officially submitted his notice of resignation and was now awaiting an official message from the Police replacing him.

'Undermining my reputation'

Kirumira said he had committed himself to wiping out crime without any special facilitation, but he was being frustrated.

"I have realised that my image before the administration will never change and given the fact that I am still a young man, I have resigned from the force to enable the Police court fulfill their motives," he said in his statement.

"The Police have persistently kept on looking at me as criminal and the purpose of this trial in an internal tribunal is to find ways of undermining my reputation."

Kirumira (right) leading an operation in Old Kampala

Kirumira said when the court finally makes its verdict, he will put in his official retirement application and earn his discharge letter. "I want to leave the Police Force since it is clean and I am branded dirty. I will not accept to hold office when I am being tried."

Last week, Kirumira appeared before the Police disciplinary court and the prosecution team alleged he had arrested a one Ramathan Kakooza and tortured him until he had paid sh350,000 to reclaim his freedom.

The Police also said that in 2014, Kirumira used his powers to release a suspect in a drug syndicate after the accused reportedly paid him sh4.8m.

When contacted about Kirumira's announcement, Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima said: "We have not seen his letter in the registry, and therefore, I cannot comment."

Kayima, however, said there was a resignation procedure within the Police Force and one would not just walk way like that.

Kirumira' s announcement comes at a time when the Police is under  the spotlight, especially after the arrest of senior officers on a number of charges ranging from kidnap, robberies, among other crimes, by sister security agencies led by Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence and Internal Security Organisation (ISO).

Previosuly, Kirumira was suspended over the same allegations he is currently charged with, before Police chief Gen. Kale Kayihura sent him for further training, promoted him and made him the Divisional Police Commander Old Kampala.

He would later be transferred  to Buyende, but later recalled over disciplinary issues.