The Kampala Metropolitan Police have expressed concern over a video on social media showing a police officer tied to a desk with the public chanting “thieves in Mukono.”.
The territorial Police at Kampala Metropolitan has noted with concern the viral video on social media where a police officer is seen with tied hands and the public chanting words like “thieves in Mukono.”
In a statement dated July 8th, Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy police spokesperson said the officers contrary to the public chants in the video are not thieves.
Owoyesigyire said they carried out investigations into the matter and established that on July 7th at around 1230hrs, No. 62833 PC Mujuni Andrew and No. 47904 PC Odongo Jonan attached to Ntawo police both Ugandan Christians, were riding a police motorcycle moving around Namuyenje when people shouted that they are thieves.
Immediately, crowds gathered around and started beating them. Pc Mujuni was tied with ropes hands behind and the legs.
The angry mob accused them of harassing them, extortion and guarding the church which is grabbing people’s bibanja.
“History on the land matter; There has been a long land wrangle for (land stretching from the University to Namuyenje cell, Ntawo ward, Mukono central division in Mukono Municipality), between the church (land lords) and the community (bibanja holders).”
“The issue prompted the then Mukono Division Police Commander in 2017 to make permanent deployment for fear of community members causing harm on each other,” Owoyesigyire said.
He explained that the said officers were among those deployed. On July 5th, a house belonging to Jingo John a kibanja holder on church land was demolished at night and the community accused the same police officers of not responding to the matter.
Owoyesigyire said the attack clearly shows the Community only attacked the officers because they have always guarded the land in question, and not because they are thieves as alleged in the video since they are known to the community.
He, however, revealed that six suspects have been arrested in response to the attack and are currently detained at Mukono CPS while the victims are currently admitted at Mengo Hospital in critical condition.
He mentioned that the DPC and team have also embarked on Community sensitization on the dangers of mob justice in the Community.
“The perpetrators of such acts will be investigated and arraigned in courts of law. The team is currently monitoring the situation and is also in touch with the church to find a lasting solution for the bibanja holders whom they acknowledge,” Owoyesigyire added.
