Museveni visits slain policeman's family

By Vision reporter

President Yoweri Museveni Thursday visited and pledged support towards the family of the police officer who was killed in Wednesday‘s riots in Kampala.

The President went to console the bereaved family at Mobile Police Patrol Unit barracks in Naguru Thursday afternoon from where he promised to cater for them.

John Bosco Ariongo, aged 48, was reportedly killed by unidentified opposition supporters who hit him with a rock, shattering his head.

The officer had been deployed as part of an operation to ensure the maintenance of public order during a procession in down town Kampala led by opposition leader, Dr. Kizza Besigye.

During his visit, Museveni ordered the Police to purchase spy cameras to ensure that they capture footage of rioters to use as evidence when persecuting them.

Nine suspects are said to be in police custody in connection with the police officer's death.

Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba however, did not name the suspects but she said they could face murder charges. She said other suspects are to face charges of holding unlawful assembly and disobeying lawful orders.

According to Judith Nabakooba, the deceased died as he was being taken to the hospital. The death has rendered his eight children orphans. He is also survived by a widow. 

The fallen Assistant Inspector of Police left his home in Naguru Police Barracks Wednesday morning to report for duty at Kafumbe Mukasa Road Police Station in Kampala where he works as the officer-in-charge (OC). Little did he know it was his last day alive.  

After 26 years of service rising to the rank of Assistant inspector of Police, Ariongo's life tumbled to a tragic end in a scuffle as Police dispersed a crowd of people who were following Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and city Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago in downtown Kampala.

 Ariong’s widow, Dinnah Agoe, asked the Government to help her start an income-generating activity to support the orphans, the eldest of whom is in Senior Five and the youngest in Primary Six.

She expressed gratitude to the President for personally going to console her family. She asked the Government to protect policemen on duty so that their families do not “suffer the fate that mine has.”

President Museveni greets the widow at their family home in Naguru

'Those responsible will be dealt with'

Museveni vowed to deal with the people he said are bent on lawlessness and disrupting people’s lives.

He said the Government defeated armed detractors and vowed to deal with the unarmed lawless groups who are trying to disrupt the country. Museveni said he would deal with them using the law.

The President praised Ariong who he said was killed in the line of duty by unarmed lawless civilians. 

“If they were armed with guns we would crash them. But they are armed with stones, burning tyres and breaking into shops with iron bars. The medicine here is the law. Go for deployment with cameras. IGP, ensure that all these Police officers go with modern cameras to record everything being done or said so that there are no arguments of who did what and where,” Museveni said.

He said with more resources, the Government will install street cameras controlled from one command centre. He also said the Government will strengthen the law to deal with those bent on lawlessness.

He pointed out weaknesses in the law, which he said include perennial granting of bail to habitual offenders. 

Ariongo first served as field force manager at the Naguru police barracks before he was posted to Kafumbe Mukasa police station. Like he has always set out each day break, on this fateful day, the officer was deployed to ensure law and order.

"I wish to reiterate that violence against police officers on duty shall be sternly dealt with through the full extent of the law," warned Nabakooba, adding that 16 suspects were in custody.

Police chief Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura decried the violence that led to the demise of one of his officers. "It is tragic that someone should stone the Police who have not provoked him."

He blamed the mayor Lukwago for disguising a political activity in the name of inspecting the city roads and for calling in FDC's Besigye to join him.

"All they want is to cause disruption in the city. If they had no bad intentions, why did they come with stones? Stones are weapons and as you can see they can kill," the boss chief fumed.

"How can anyone be supportive of someone who is bent on breaking the law?" Kayihura speaking to journalists at the Police forensic laboratory in Naguru on learning about the tragedy.

There will be a requiem mass for Ariongo today at Christ the King Church after which the fallen police official will be laid to rest at Atutuli Village, Kumi District.