Police apologise for city killings
Jul 02, 2008
THE POLICE have apologised to residents of Kalerwe for Tuesday’s shooting, in which a school boy and a special Police constable (SPC) were killed by stray bullets during a botched security operation.
By Steven Candia and Moses Mulondo
THE POLICE have apologised to residents of Kalerwe for Tuesday’s shooting, in which a school boy and a special Police constable (SPC) were killed by stray bullets during a botched security operation.
Police killings trigger city riot
Police commissioner for community affairs, Asan Kasingye, delivered the message on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura.
“I have come here to apologise because we lost two lives in the hands of errant Police officers,†Kasingye said.
“We don’t condone the act of taking peoples’ lives in such an unlawful way. I promise that what took place should never happen again so that we have the public and the Police work together to prevent crime.â€
He handed over sh1m to each of the families of the victims as contribution towards the funeral expenses.
Addressing a press briefing earlier, Kampala Police Chief Edward Ochom said a female Police officer, who was in charge of the group of Probationer Police Constables at Kalerwe, had been arrested for neglect of duty.
“The constables had been placed under her supervision. She was supposed to have commanded them but she was not there, so we are holding her responsible,†Ochom said at Kampala Central Police Station.
Corporal Eseri Madangu is being held together with five other policemen.
They were identified as Emmanuel Muduli, Ivan Mutamanya, Brain Balikuddembe, Yokana Muichi and Emmanuel Arinaitwe.
They will be charged with murder. The SPCs were trying to arrest a marijuana smoker when they came under attack, prompting them to open fire, killing 12-year-old Willy Byamukama by mistake.
The boy’s death angered the residents and triggered off a riot, in which a Police patrol car was smashed and set ablaze.
The other victim was identified as Tom Ntanda, a policeman attached to Wandegeya Police Station.
Two other suspects had been arrested in connection with torching the Police vehicle. The hunt for the third suspect is still on, the Police said.
On the involvement of the army in quelling the riot, Ochom said the Police had called for reinforcement from the Military Police.
Internal affairs state minister Matia Kasaija yesterday described the incident as unfortunate. A security operation like that did not necessitate the use of live ammunition, he said.
The opposition UPC condemned the killings and blamed it on lack of professionalism and inadequate training of SPCs.
“They use excessive force beyond what the law requires in arresting suspected criminals,†said UPC secretary general Peter Walubiri during the party’s weekly briefing.
“People have now begun looking at Police officers as enemies.â€
THE POLICE have apologised to residents of Kalerwe for Tuesday’s shooting, in which a school boy and a special Police constable (SPC) were killed by stray bullets during a botched security operation.
Police killings trigger city riot
Police commissioner for community affairs, Asan Kasingye, delivered the message on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura.
“I have come here to apologise because we lost two lives in the hands of errant Police officers,†Kasingye said.
“We don’t condone the act of taking peoples’ lives in such an unlawful way. I promise that what took place should never happen again so that we have the public and the Police work together to prevent crime.â€
He handed over sh1m to each of the families of the victims as contribution towards the funeral expenses.
Addressing a press briefing earlier, Kampala Police Chief Edward Ochom said a female Police officer, who was in charge of the group of Probationer Police Constables at Kalerwe, had been arrested for neglect of duty.
“The constables had been placed under her supervision. She was supposed to have commanded them but she was not there, so we are holding her responsible,†Ochom said at Kampala Central Police Station.
Corporal Eseri Madangu is being held together with five other policemen.
They were identified as Emmanuel Muduli, Ivan Mutamanya, Brain Balikuddembe, Yokana Muichi and Emmanuel Arinaitwe.
They will be charged with murder. The SPCs were trying to arrest a marijuana smoker when they came under attack, prompting them to open fire, killing 12-year-old Willy Byamukama by mistake.
The boy’s death angered the residents and triggered off a riot, in which a Police patrol car was smashed and set ablaze.
The other victim was identified as Tom Ntanda, a policeman attached to Wandegeya Police Station.
Two other suspects had been arrested in connection with torching the Police vehicle. The hunt for the third suspect is still on, the Police said.
On the involvement of the army in quelling the riot, Ochom said the Police had called for reinforcement from the Military Police.
Internal affairs state minister Matia Kasaija yesterday described the incident as unfortunate. A security operation like that did not necessitate the use of live ammunition, he said.
The opposition UPC condemned the killings and blamed it on lack of professionalism and inadequate training of SPCs.
“They use excessive force beyond what the law requires in arresting suspected criminals,†said UPC secretary general Peter Walubiri during the party’s weekly briefing.
“People have now begun looking at Police officers as enemies.â€