Parliament quizzes Police chief over Kiboko squad
Nov 11, 2008
Parliament has asked Kampala Extra regional Police commander Edward Ochom to explain why the Police did not arrest the Kiboko squad that beat up people on Kampala streets last year.
By Paul Kiwuuwa and Catherine Bekunda
Parliament has asked Kampala Extra regional Police commander Edward Ochom to explain why the Police did not arrest the Kiboko squad that beat up people on Kampala streets last year.
The squad consisted of men with sticks who canned people involved in demonstrations.
Appearing before the probe investigating the Police’s brutality, Ochom denied having knowledge about the alleged squad.
However, Makindye West MP Hussein Kyanjo insisted that the Kiboko Squad was commanded by the Police,
On April 17 last year, Kyanjo and Kitgum Woman MP Beatrice Anywar were arrested after a violent demonstration against the giving away of part of Mabira Forest to an investor.
During the demonstration, people were clobbered by a group referred to as the Kiboko Squad, but the Police denied knowing them.
Ochom told the MPs that he saw a group of youngsters holding sticks running from Rwenzori House towards the Constitutional Square to disperse the demonstrators.
He added: “The situation was beyond my control. I saw about 20 people holding sticks, beating up people on the street before they quickly disappeared.â€
Ochom said he could not arrest the group, because it took him by surprise.
He added that the Police did not want to be diverted from the chaos on other streets of Kampala where the people were demonstrating.
“I don’t know the origin of the Kiboko Squad but I told the CID (Criminal Investigations Department) to investigate the matter,†he said.
Parliament has asked Kampala Extra regional Police commander Edward Ochom to explain why the Police did not arrest the Kiboko squad that beat up people on Kampala streets last year.
The squad consisted of men with sticks who canned people involved in demonstrations.
Appearing before the probe investigating the Police’s brutality, Ochom denied having knowledge about the alleged squad.
However, Makindye West MP Hussein Kyanjo insisted that the Kiboko Squad was commanded by the Police,
On April 17 last year, Kyanjo and Kitgum Woman MP Beatrice Anywar were arrested after a violent demonstration against the giving away of part of Mabira Forest to an investor.
During the demonstration, people were clobbered by a group referred to as the Kiboko Squad, but the Police denied knowing them.
Ochom told the MPs that he saw a group of youngsters holding sticks running from Rwenzori House towards the Constitutional Square to disperse the demonstrators.
He added: “The situation was beyond my control. I saw about 20 people holding sticks, beating up people on the street before they quickly disappeared.â€
Ochom said he could not arrest the group, because it took him by surprise.
He added that the Police did not want to be diverted from the chaos on other streets of Kampala where the people were demonstrating.
“I don’t know the origin of the Kiboko Squad but I told the CID (Criminal Investigations Department) to investigate the matter,†he said.