Katumba Nets Wembley Men
Sep 24, 2002
POLICE chief Maj. Gen. Katumba Wamala has ordered the arrest of Operation Wembley agents who stormed Buganda Road Court and snatched a prosecution witness.
By Geoffrey Kamali
and Davis Weddi
POLICE chief Maj. Gen. Katumba Wamala has ordered the arrest of Operation Wembley agents who stormed Buganda Road Court and snatched a prosecution witness.
Yesterday, Wamala said whoever has been falsely arrested, tortured and money extorted from them by Wembley operatives should report to him in confidence.
The crack-down comes in the wake of a public outcry that men claiming to be Wembley agents were arresting, detaining and beating up people before extorting “big money†from them.
“I need to be helped. If I can get the victims, come to me and I will handle each case in confidence. So far, I have only received a name of one operative,†Katumba said, surprised at the reports.
“People might be intimidated by such actions. I need to know the names of all operatives who were involved,†he added.
Katumba quoted the Wembley commander Col. Elly Kayanja as saying he was not aware of the incident and that he had not sanctioned any arrest of that nature.
Last week, Buganda Road Court Grade One Magistrate Duncan Gaswaga pulled out of a criminal case against a security informant after a group of Wembley operatives stormed the courtroom and grabbed a witness only identified as Katende at gunpoint.
The operatives also demanded that the magistrate should dismiss the case against their colleague, Fred Karanzi, who is on remand in Luzira for jumping court bail.
Karanzi is one of the four members of the same family who are on assault charges against Katende due to a wrangle over land.
“I am following that case and I have asked the regional CID officer (Moses Sakira) to re-arrest those people (suspects). Then we shall see who comes back to take them away,†he said.
Security around the court premises has since been beefed up.
A senior magistrate said on condition of anonymity that no armed people are allowed into the premises except court security personnel.
Operation Wembley has arrested at least 400 suspects some of whom have been charged with terrorism and treason.
The operation was set up by President Museveni earlier this year to flush out armed criminals in Kampala and other areas.
The UPDF director of sports, Capt. Kabusene, is one of many soldiers also arrested over robbery charges.
The opposition has accused the operation of targeting government critics and of persecution.
Katumba, to whom Kayanja reports, insists that all Wembley impostors must be exposed.
Ends
and Davis Weddi
POLICE chief Maj. Gen. Katumba Wamala has ordered the arrest of Operation Wembley agents who stormed Buganda Road Court and snatched a prosecution witness.
Yesterday, Wamala said whoever has been falsely arrested, tortured and money extorted from them by Wembley operatives should report to him in confidence.
The crack-down comes in the wake of a public outcry that men claiming to be Wembley agents were arresting, detaining and beating up people before extorting “big money†from them.
“I need to be helped. If I can get the victims, come to me and I will handle each case in confidence. So far, I have only received a name of one operative,†Katumba said, surprised at the reports.
“People might be intimidated by such actions. I need to know the names of all operatives who were involved,†he added.
Katumba quoted the Wembley commander Col. Elly Kayanja as saying he was not aware of the incident and that he had not sanctioned any arrest of that nature.
Last week, Buganda Road Court Grade One Magistrate Duncan Gaswaga pulled out of a criminal case against a security informant after a group of Wembley operatives stormed the courtroom and grabbed a witness only identified as Katende at gunpoint.
The operatives also demanded that the magistrate should dismiss the case against their colleague, Fred Karanzi, who is on remand in Luzira for jumping court bail.
Karanzi is one of the four members of the same family who are on assault charges against Katende due to a wrangle over land.
“I am following that case and I have asked the regional CID officer (Moses Sakira) to re-arrest those people (suspects). Then we shall see who comes back to take them away,†he said.
Security around the court premises has since been beefed up.
A senior magistrate said on condition of anonymity that no armed people are allowed into the premises except court security personnel.
Operation Wembley has arrested at least 400 suspects some of whom have been charged with terrorism and treason.
The operation was set up by President Museveni earlier this year to flush out armed criminals in Kampala and other areas.
The UPDF director of sports, Capt. Kabusene, is one of many soldiers also arrested over robbery charges.
The opposition has accused the operation of targeting government critics and of persecution.
Katumba, to whom Kayanja reports, insists that all Wembley impostors must be exposed.
Ends