Mutabazi denies assaulting Lwengo residents

PIC: George Mutabazi

LWENGO | MUTABAZI COURT CASE

Lwengo district Chairperson George Mutabazi has denied assaulting residents.

In July, Mutabazi was dragged to the Constitutional Court by volunteers of Uganda Extra Human Rights and Anti-corruption on behalf one of the victims of the alleged assault, Bruce Tushabe.

"I have never been barbaric, but rather it is the petitioner who has been notorious for making defamatory statements against leaders, civil servants and other civic organizations on face book, Whatsapp and even verbally," he contends.

Mutabazi claims that the petitioner is advancing a hate campaign against.

He asked court to dismiss the petition on grounds that it is frivolous, ill-advised, motivated by malice, bad in law and calculated to divert him from his mandate to advance growth and development in the community.

Court documents indicate that between 2014 and 2015, Mutabazi, during his campaign to enforce and encourage residents to engage in community service, physically assaulted several people in the district.

The petitioner alleges that on January 28, 2014, he physically assaulted Tushabe at Fresher Restaurant in Lwengo town Council.

In 2014, media was awash with stories of Mutabazi going on rampage in the villages of Nakalinzi and Lwentamu in Lwengo, caning people for refusing to participate in voluntary community work.

During the operation, it was reported that he was accompanied by police officers who raided several homes, kiosks, bars and gardens beating whoever they found and confiscating motorcycles and bicycles.

Responding to the said allegations, Mutabazi told the media that he made four announcements, calling for people to engage in community service, but the residents disobeyed his orders.

The petitioner stated that Mutabazi's conduct contravenes Articles 24, 25 and 44 (a) of the Constitution, which prohibits torture.

In his plaint, Tushabe argues that Mutabazi could have chosen a better way of mobilizing the community for Bulungi Bwansi instead of caning them.

He wants Mutabazi to be banned from vying for the position of LC5 of Lwengo district or any other political post.

Tushabe also wants a permanent injunction, restraining Mutabazi, his agents or servants from physically assaulting people in the district.

He further wants court to declare Mutabazi unfit to be the chairperson of Lwengo district and order him to pay damages and costs of the petition.