NAGIRINYA: Police explains why Natete CCTV Centre was closed during kidnap

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Eight police officers are standing trial before the Police Disciplinary court for negligence in connection to the kidnap and subsequent murder of social worker, Maria Nagirinya and her driver, Ronald Kitayimbwa.

The duo was kidnapped outside Nagirinya’s main gate on August 28 in Lungujja, Rubaga Division in Kampala. They were driving in Nagirinya’s vehicle Spacio UBA 570V around 11:40pm.

Nagirinya’s father, Francis Lubowa and siblings rushed to Natete Police station hoping that police would use the Closed Circuit Television –CCTV security cameras to trace for the vehicle but they were told the cameras were under lock and key.

Natete police advised them to proceed to Old Kampala and Katwe police divisions but their efforts didn’t yield results. The duo’s lifeless bodies were recovered in Mukono district, two days later.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni ordered for the arrest of police officers approached by the family for failure to act to save the lives of Nagirinya and Kitayimbwa. This was after Nagirinya’s relatives pinned police for complacency, saying they could have saved the duo’s lives if they had only acted in time.

The Professional Standards Unit –PSU picked up Assistant Superintendent of Police –ASP Mohammed, ASP Nizeyimana Andrew, ASP Okello Allan, Assistant Inspector of Police -AIP Baguma Sunday, Corporal –CPL Owona Samuel, Police Constable Basaliza Joshua and PC Deo Kitute.

They were charged with Neglect of Duty contrary to section 44(1), Code 19(a), (b), (c) of the Police Act, Cap 303.

Prosecution led by SSP Stephen Ibanda, accused the suspects of being negligent when they failed to promptly to respond to a report of a kidnap, which affected the eventual response towards the victims, Maria Nagirinya and Ronald Kitayimbwa.

CPL Kibikwamu Reuben was also charged with Discreditable or Irregular Conduct contrary to section 44(1), Code 12 of the Police Act, Cap 303.

Ibanda alleged that Kibikwamu acted in a manner likely to bring disrepute to the reputation of the Uganda Police Force and cause injury to public service, when he failed to professionally attend to the relatives of Nagirinya and Kitayimbwa, who had sought his assistance.

In their defense, the officers said they did nothing wrong and shifted blame to their seniors who they accused of keeping the Natete CCTV center under lock and key. They instead asked the court to ask their bosses why the center always closed.

URN spoke to Commissioner of Police –CP Felix Baryamwisaki and the Acting Director for Information Communication Technology –ICT in Uganda Force on why the Natete CCTV center was closed during the kidnap and murder of Nagirinya.

Baryamwisaki told URN that the center was closed because it was being used for training. He however, said that couldn’t deter officers at Lungujja and Katwe police stations from helping Nagirinya’s relatives.

He explains that if Katwe and Old Kampala Station had sent an alert to Police stations and patrols where the car was heading, the kidnappers could have been intercepted on their way to Mukono.

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URN