Humanist

Purely on the basis of their experiences with individual police officers in Bukedi North, many indicate they can understand the frustration and the plight of the residents of Mile Five, Mugiti Sub-County, Budaka District.

They could not take it anymore, and so, reportedly, yesterday, 20^th August 2024, they purchased padlocks, matched to their local station, Kamonkoli Police Station, locked it up, and are demanding the immediate transfer of Police Officer Lwegaba David, deployed as the Officer in Charge (OC) Kamonkoli Station.

This comes as no surprise to many. There had prior been rumours of how Officer Lwegaba allegedly abuses his position. There was a rumour early this year that he had taken to his home the gun, an AK-47 it is believed, allocated for guarding the station; which is apparently not allowed for him to do.

The allegation that when they “report cases to OC Lwegaba, he fails to take action unless a bribe is paid” many find believable. And that is why many find insensitive the Police Spokesperson being dismissive of the resident’s complaints, as it is reported in the media.

“Bukedi North Police Spokesperson, Semewo Samuel, while speaking to the media, acknowledged the incident, stating that the deceased had gone to the Police Station the previous day, bleeding heavily. According to Semewo, the OC advised Sabakaki to seek medical attention first and then return to the station, denying that there was any refusal to assist him. Semewo also dismissed the allegations of corruption against OC Lwegaba David.”

In his statements to the media, the spokesperson went into knee-jerk defensive mode. He became the ‘defence lawyer’ for the accused; at the same time the judge and jury exonerating the accused. On what evidence, facts, or findings of an investigation, was he dismissive of the resident’s allegations?

How his comments so dehumanize him. Really, he found nothing wrong with the OC sending away a man beaten and “bleeding heavily”, without swinging into action to learn more and to immediately pursue the injured man’s assailants?

What has happened to our humanity that it is okay for duty bearers to send away a man “bleeding heavily” to go on his own to seek treatment and come back tomorrow?

Assuming the spokesperson’s characterisation of the events is true, at that moment in time when the residents were up in arms, he as the face and voice of the Uganda Police Force should have perhaps not said it out loud. Some may interpret that he said it, further supports the resident’s allegations about the ill-treatment that they receive at the hands of police officers.

As the spokesperson, perhaps, the best he could have done was to listen to the complaints, and promise to forward them to the relevant higher authorities, such as the Police Professional Standards Unit, for investigation.

The man “bleeding heavily,” Sabakaki Yowabu, reportedly succumbed to his injuries and he died on his way back home after he was sent away from the Police Station by OC Lwegaba. Hence, the fury of his fellow residents.

Those who attacked and beat Sabakaki do death, it seems will never be held accountable, because of the seeming abuse of office of OC Lwegaba. The Uganda Police Force owes it to the late Sabakaki and the people of Mile Five, Mugiti Sub-County, Budaka District, to hold Police Officer Lwegaba accountable.

In keeping with today’s WordPress Daily Prompt, “Where did your name come from?” a reminder to the Uganda Police Force. According to Wikipedia, the word Police:

“First attested in English in the early 15th century, originally in a range of senses encompassing ‘(public) policy; state; public order’, the word police comes from Middle French police (‘public order, administration, government’), in turn from Latin politia, which is the romanization of the Ancient Greek πολιτεία (politeia) ‘citizenship, administration, civil polity’. This is derived from πόλις (polis) ‘city’”

Please fulfill the sense in your name, work for the public and heed the people’s request for another to be deployed as OC of Kamonkoli Police Station.

Sources of information – Bukedde and Sebei Today