Hoima leaders ask army to discipline kingdom guards
Dec 28, 2009
DISTRICT leaders in Hoima have called on army officials to discipline the royal guards attached to the Bunyoro King who allegedly assaulted the Kyabigambire sub-county councillor, Swaibu Nyangabyaki, in November.<br>
By Pascal Kwesiga
DISTRICT leaders in Hoima have called on army officials to discipline the royal guards attached to the Bunyoro King who allegedly assaulted the Kyabigambire sub-county councillor, Swaibu Nyangabyaki, in November.
Nyangabyaki was beaten by four royal guards in front of the chief administrative officer, Walter Iriama, and other leaders at the district headquarters on November 19.
Nyangabyaki last week told a council session chaired by the district speaker, Yunusu Mugabe, that the armed guards, who were dressed in army uniform, impounded his motorcycle, accusing him of parking on the road that leads to the palace, located next to the International Fund for Agriculture Development boardroom, which the kingdom lets out to the district.
Nyangabyaki, who is the works water and roads chief, said the guards followed him to the district headquarters where they roughed and hit him with a gun on the head, injuring his skull.
“King Solomon Iguru’s vehicle passed by but he was not in it. The four royal guards asked me what I was doing and whether I had been sent to kill the king but I ignored them,†he told councillors.
“They asked me if I was aware that they could cane me and take my motorcycle. They grabbed my cell phone and smashed it on the ground and I walked away but they still followed me, saying I should go to the palace,†Nyangabyaki said.
He added that he would sue the guards for causing grievous harm to him.
Mugabe said the district local government would assist Nyangabyaki to pursue the case and foot his medical bills since he was injured while on duty.
The Kyangwali sub-county councillor, Tom Muhe, called for a meeting with the king over the matter.
Alex Byansi, the security committee chairperson, said the incident had been reported to the Inspector General of Police, Kale Kayihura, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The head of the royal guards, Moses Kasangaki, said the soldiers, who allegedly committed the offence, were attached to the UPDF and did not beat Nyangabyaki on the orders of the kingdom.
“Those soldiers belong to the Government and we do not have control over them. Our traditional royal guards cannot attack their own people,†he said.
DISTRICT leaders in Hoima have called on army officials to discipline the royal guards attached to the Bunyoro King who allegedly assaulted the Kyabigambire sub-county councillor, Swaibu Nyangabyaki, in November.
Nyangabyaki was beaten by four royal guards in front of the chief administrative officer, Walter Iriama, and other leaders at the district headquarters on November 19.
Nyangabyaki last week told a council session chaired by the district speaker, Yunusu Mugabe, that the armed guards, who were dressed in army uniform, impounded his motorcycle, accusing him of parking on the road that leads to the palace, located next to the International Fund for Agriculture Development boardroom, which the kingdom lets out to the district.
Nyangabyaki, who is the works water and roads chief, said the guards followed him to the district headquarters where they roughed and hit him with a gun on the head, injuring his skull.
“King Solomon Iguru’s vehicle passed by but he was not in it. The four royal guards asked me what I was doing and whether I had been sent to kill the king but I ignored them,†he told councillors.
“They asked me if I was aware that they could cane me and take my motorcycle. They grabbed my cell phone and smashed it on the ground and I walked away but they still followed me, saying I should go to the palace,†Nyangabyaki said.
He added that he would sue the guards for causing grievous harm to him.
Mugabe said the district local government would assist Nyangabyaki to pursue the case and foot his medical bills since he was injured while on duty.
The Kyangwali sub-county councillor, Tom Muhe, called for a meeting with the king over the matter.
Alex Byansi, the security committee chairperson, said the incident had been reported to the Inspector General of Police, Kale Kayihura, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The head of the royal guards, Moses Kasangaki, said the soldiers, who allegedly committed the offence, were attached to the UPDF and did not beat Nyangabyaki on the orders of the kingdom.
“Those soldiers belong to the Government and we do not have control over them. Our traditional royal guards cannot attack their own people,†he said.