CID deputy director transferred over mess in NRM primaries

Kampala, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT |  President Yoweri Museveni has ordered for the transfer of top police officers at the Criminal Investigations Directorate –CID for failing to arrest masterminds of the chaos that marred National Resistance Movement -NRM party primaries.

Last month, the president directed the Inspector General of Police, Martin Okoth Ochola, to arrest whoever participated in altering results, voter bribery,  and other forms of malpractice as well as those that orchestrated violence in various places.

A senior police detective at CID revealed that Museveni wondered why after more than a month, police have failed to arrest polling officials that allegedly altered candidates’ results and declared people who had been defeated.

The President has now ordered for the immediate transfer of CID’s deputy director, Senior Commissioner of Police Joseph Obwana. Obwana has since been moved to Interpol with no specific title while no substantive person has been appointed to replace him at CID.

“When his excellency ordered for the investigation of chaos and malpractice that happened in NRM, the CID director tasked her deputy [Obwana] to spearhead the investigations working alongside Commissioner of Electoral and Political Offences. The President ran out of patience and ordered for their immediate transfer,” a source said.

URN has learnt that the head of the Electoral and Political Offences Desk, Senior Superintendent Richard Mugwisaje has been replaced with Henry Mugumya who has been heading the media crimes department.

CID Spokesperson, ASP Charles Twine, could not be reached. However, Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, said that the Internal Affairs Minister has since barred them from sharing transfers to the media.

Obwana had just returned from suspension after he was accused of being part of the policemen that were frustrating cases of torture and destruction of property preferred against businessman Abid Alarm. The State House Anti-Corruption Unit led by Lt Col Edith Nakalema arrested four police officers who were allegedly frustrating cases slapped against Abid Alarm for subjecting Kassanda residents to inhumane treatment. 

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URN