Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has called on the police to increase their eagerness in conducting investigations into allegations of rape or indecent assault against singer Sheebah Karungi.
The Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has called on the police to boost their eagerness in instituting investigations surrounding singer Sheebah Karungi’s rape allegations.
Last week in a video circulating on social media, the singer claimed one big person in government attempted to rape her while she waited in her car to perform at one of Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s birthday parties.
Sheebah said the attempt came up while she waited in her car to be called on to the stage. She revealed that this person opened her car doors and started “acting inappropriately funny” toward her.
Sheebah did not mention the tormentor’s name but social media was quick to bring up Andrew Mwenda’s name saying that he could have been the subject in question.
The allegations were, however, not well received by Mwenda who penned a long statement questioning why the Singer could not reveal the rapist to the public other than leaving the situation open to the public to debate.
“I find it strange that Sheeba feels no obligation to expose the man who raped her but is comfortable having the wrong person accused of the crime. I find it strange that a woman of her stature can be violated in such a humiliating and painful experience and instead of reporting the offender to the police, she takes the matter onto social media.”
Mwenda also wondered why Sheebah had not sought justice through the police and the courts? He said she could have pursued both: sympathy in the public sphere and justice in the courts of law.
“When her video came out, someone went on social media claiming that I was that person who raped her. I have never in my life met this Sheeba and had never even heard of her until this video came out and allegations were made against me,” Mwenda said.
“When I watched the video I gave her the benefit of the doubt believing she is a decent person. I expected her, seeing how viral these allegations have gone, to come out and say I am being wrongly accused since I have never met her. She has kept stone silent,” he added.
Speaking about this, however, Lukwago who wrote on his social handle said crimes of that nature should be investigated even before the victim files a complaint.
“Shocked that police are not enthusiastic about instituting investigations in these serious Sheeba Kalungi allegations of rape or indecent assault!!!. Crimes of that nature are committed not only against the victims but humanity in general and police ought not to wait for a complaint to be formally registered before they commence investigations. They should atleast open up a general inquiry file,” Lukwago wrote.
This however comes at a time when the Directorate of Criminal Investigations has confirmed they have instituted inquiries into the alleged incident of indecent assault against, Sheebah, after she formally made her complaint at CID headquarters on May 17.
According to Fred Enanga the police spokesperson, during the interaction with the CID officers, Sheebah revealed the details and the individual who was involved and the related circumstances.
In her complaint, Sheebah clearly mentions the suspect and refutes the ongoing speculation in sections of the media that it was Andrew Mwenda.
“In view of the above, a team of Detectives has commenced investigations on the matter to ensure justice for the victim,” Enanga said.
“We do thank Sheeba for taking the courage to report the matter and assure the public that as Uganda Police we take matters of Gender Based Violence seriously,” he added.
