Police to look into conduct of own officers during Rukungiri violence

The Professional Standards Unit is set to look into the conduct of police officers in Rukungiri on Wednesday that led to death of an FDC supporter.

There was violence in Rukungiri when police blocked opposition strongman Dr.Kizza Besigye from accessing the stadium which prompted his supporters to start throwing stones at police.

In return, police started firing bullets and teargas to disperse the crowd leading to death of one person and others were left injured. Police claimed that the deceased was hit by a stone that killed him instantly.

When asked to comment on the conduct of the police officers, Professional Standards Unit spokesperson Vincent Ssekate said they will look into the matter. “We have sent a team on ground to study what really happened and if they find there was misconduct, they culprits will face disciplinary action,”Ssekate said without divulging more information.

Put to task to explain whether police is allowed to fire bullets into unarmed civilians, the PSU mouthpiece said that police officers are only allowed to fire bullets in the air to scare rioters but not on the ‘flesh’.

Probed more

On the fate of the police officers involved in the Togikwatako scuffle in Rukungiri involving Dr.Besigye on Wednesday, Ssekate said he could not divulge more information that he said would jeopardise their investigations.

Following the incident in Rukungiri stadium, police on Thursday arrested Dr.Besigye, Patrick Oboi Amuriat and FDC iron lady Ingrid Turinawe on their way to Kabale before being detained at Naggalama police station in Mukono district.

Kigezi region police spokesperson Elly Matte confirmed the arrest, adding that Besigye would be charged for murder, inciting violence and injuring a police officer.

Speaking after the bloody incident in Rukungiri on Wednesday, Besigye however blamed police for the violence that culminated into death of one person and left other injured. “This was a completely unnecessary violence on behalf of the police, it was completely uncalled for,” Besigye told Nile Post.

He added, “A number of other people were also injured by gun shots and are in various health units around. This is blatant violation of people’s rights; we shall respond to it formally.”