Police bosses held over Hoima shooting

Sep 08, 2010

FIVE senior Police officers, one of them the deputy district Police commander of Hoima, Luke Mbusa, have been arrested over the Tuesday shooting and killing of two BAT workers.

By Amlan Tumusiime
and Robert Atuhairwe

FIVE senior Police officers, one of them the deputy district Police commander of Hoima, Luke Mbusa, have been arrested over the Tuesday shooting and killing of two BAT workers.

On the run, according to Police sources, is the Hoima station head Romeo Ojara, whose arrest was ordered following the botched up operation.

Regional CID officer Charles Olinga said: “Five officers have been arrested and are in our custody. Whoever shot the workers will be charged with murder.”

However, the Police would not name the officers. The district Police chief, Augustine Kasangaki, said Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba will parade them today.

The Police have also seized five guns from the officers to establish who shot the workers.

Olinga, however, clarified that only two people died and the third, Sylvia Kabasinguzi, is receiving treatment at Hoima Hospital. The Police met the burial expenses for Denis Bazaare and Bernard Byabasaija.

Sources said the order to arrest the officers was issued by Inspector General Kale Kayihura.

Security remained high at Kibati, where BAT, Uganda’s top tobacco producer, has multi-million warehouses. It was the same at the firm’s offices at Kiryatetete. Residents had tried to raid the offices to avenge the killings.

Sam Mugenyi, the leaf operations manager, said the company had cleared arrears of 600 workers save for only 50 who had not picked their wages. “The process of paying them had started before the strike. These people did not strike because of non-payment, they were defending their drunken colleague who was causing trouble,” he added.

But Ronald Aheebwa, a worker, said they were demanding sh140m for salary for two months, but the bosses called in the Police who shot at them.

Mugenyi said calm had returned and work would resume. Isaac Ampeire, the legal counsel, said in a statement that the purchasing centre would be closed for investigations to take place.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});