The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kassanda, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kassanda District Police Commander Jaffer Magezi and Godwin Amanya, the Officer in Charge of Kassanda police post are on the spot for allegedly neglecting their duties which resulted in an attack on a family at Mannyogaseka village.
Machete-wielding men attacked a widow identified as Edry Nduhukire and her eight children on the night of October 27, and unlawfully evicted them from their land. Although the victims reported the matter to the police, the suspect was not arrested. Instead, a developer later identified as David Mugume Rwabunyoro fenced off the said land.
Nduhukire, 75, inherited the disputed land measuring about 150 acres from her late husband, but Mugume, a real estate dealer has since claimed ownership of the same. In an October 30 letter, the chairperson Mannyogaseka sub county Francis Kamugisha asked the head of State House Anti-Corruption Unit Col Edith Nakalema to intervene in the matter.
“He forcefully came with a gang of people during night hours, they beat, cut and chased away the family and their workers. They reported at Mannyogaseka police post and at Kassanda but the file was taken to Kibuli and the suspect is not arrested…,” Mugisha wrote in a letter that prompted Col Nakalema and the police deputy director for operations, Dennis Namuwoza to intervene.
Col Nakalema directed that the case against the two senior police officers be referred to the Police Professional Standards Unit for investigation and handling. She added that the president directed her and the team from police headquarters to ascertain the status of Nduhukire and her children after the attack to ensure that the land dispute is resolved.
Nduhukire told a meeting held at the disputed land that Mugume advised her to vacate the land in order to save her life and that of her children. She added that the attack on her household came just a few days after the threat and that although she reported to police, no action was taken to protect her from the attackers.
Col Nakalema asked the police and the Resident District Commissioner Phoebe Namulindwa to explain actions taken when the matter was reported.
According to Col Nakalema, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit jointly with the police have since arrested Mugume on allegations of attempted murder. He was arraigned before court at Mubende on charges of alleged aggravated robbery, attempted murder and grievous harm and remanded to prison until December 2, 2021.
Meanwhile, Namuwoza asked the residents to report any suspects in regard to the matter to enable the force to get to the bottom of the case.
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