House starts probe into Police conduct
Aug 12, 2008
KAMPALA Woman MP Nabilah Naggayi Ssempala (FDC) yesterday shed tears as she narrated the incident in which the Police arrested her from St. Balikuddembe (Owino) Market.
By Madinah Tebajjukira
KAMPALA Woman MP Nabilah Naggayi Ssempala (FDC) yesterday shed tears as she narrated the incident in which the Police arrested her from St. Balikuddembe (Owino) Market.
She was appearing before the parliamentary select committee investigating the conduct of the Police
Nabilah was arrested on June 10 for allegedly holding an illegal rally. But she claimed she was distributing suggestion boxes to her constituents. She submitted a compact disc containing the fracas to the committee.
Nabilah claimed that her blouse and skirt were torn during the arrest.
“At the time I was arrested, I prayed to God to be taken to a nearby place because my skirt was torn. I was worried of reaching the cells without my knickers,†she said before bursting into tears.
When the committee headed by Peter Nyombi (Independent), played the disk Nabilah had submitted, MPs and Police officers were moved by the manner in which she was handled.
“Eeee---that is horrible!†Sarah Mpabwa (NRM) said.
The compact disc showed three female Special Police Constables (SPCs) pulling Nabilah’s skirt downward as another male officer pulled it from behind.
At the same time, another female SPC was forcing her to sit down.
According to Nabilah, the Police striped her naked deliberately.
“It was an intentional act by the the female SPCs to humiliate me. “God forbid, if I had not held my skirt tightly, I would have made headlines in newspapers.â€
She said prior to her arrest, an anonymous person called her and advised her to wear a jean trousers during rallies in the city.
Nabilah added that while at the Old Kampala Police station, she was pushed onto a metallic box and she sustained injuries on her back.
She denied claims by the internal affairs minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, that she hit a Police officer with a microphone during the scuffle. Baker Kizito, another witness, told MPs that he saw Police officers harassing Nabilah.
When MPs paraded officers from Old Kampala Police Station, he singled one only identified as Steven, saying he was the most notorious during the arrest.
He is attached to Owino Police post.
Parliament set up the committee after MPs Nabilah, Suzan Nampijja (Conservative Party) and Sam Lyomoki (NRM) were allegedly harassed by the Police during their arrests this year.
KAMPALA Woman MP Nabilah Naggayi Ssempala (FDC) yesterday shed tears as she narrated the incident in which the Police arrested her from St. Balikuddembe (Owino) Market.
She was appearing before the parliamentary select committee investigating the conduct of the Police
Nabilah was arrested on June 10 for allegedly holding an illegal rally. But she claimed she was distributing suggestion boxes to her constituents. She submitted a compact disc containing the fracas to the committee.
Nabilah claimed that her blouse and skirt were torn during the arrest.
“At the time I was arrested, I prayed to God to be taken to a nearby place because my skirt was torn. I was worried of reaching the cells without my knickers,†she said before bursting into tears.
When the committee headed by Peter Nyombi (Independent), played the disk Nabilah had submitted, MPs and Police officers were moved by the manner in which she was handled.
“Eeee---that is horrible!†Sarah Mpabwa (NRM) said.
The compact disc showed three female Special Police Constables (SPCs) pulling Nabilah’s skirt downward as another male officer pulled it from behind.
At the same time, another female SPC was forcing her to sit down.
According to Nabilah, the Police striped her naked deliberately.
“It was an intentional act by the the female SPCs to humiliate me. “God forbid, if I had not held my skirt tightly, I would have made headlines in newspapers.â€
She said prior to her arrest, an anonymous person called her and advised her to wear a jean trousers during rallies in the city.
Nabilah added that while at the Old Kampala Police station, she was pushed onto a metallic box and she sustained injuries on her back.
She denied claims by the internal affairs minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, that she hit a Police officer with a microphone during the scuffle. Baker Kizito, another witness, told MPs that he saw Police officers harassing Nabilah.
When MPs paraded officers from Old Kampala Police Station, he singled one only identified as Steven, saying he was the most notorious during the arrest.
He is attached to Owino Police post.
Parliament set up the committee after MPs Nabilah, Suzan Nampijja (Conservative Party) and Sam Lyomoki (NRM) were allegedly harassed by the Police during their arrests this year.