Police say officer arrested in robbery was only a bad apple among the many good ones

Police has said they have started investigating circumstances under which their own officer at the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police was arrested in a foiled robber in Entebbe on Sunday night.

ASP Bright Amutuhire, the officer in charge of police operations at Kajjansi Police Station was arrested together with one Richard Musinguzi at Abayita- Ababiri in Katabi Town Council as they tried to rob Tom Kisuku, a businessman of Busega.

They intercepted Kisuku’s car by parking their vehicle infront of his and demanded money but the businessman who had alerted police was saved by a 999 patrol truck and Local Defence Unit personnel.

In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon, police spokesperson, Fred Enanga said preliminary investigations indicate that Amutuhire used his uniform and authority to intimidate the victim with an intention of extorting money from him.

“The officer is being charged with discreditable conduct and together with the civilian for demanding by menaces. The public should however, know that the majority of our officers are doing a great job of keeping communities safe and upholding the law as well as resisting the temptation of abusing their positions.  We commend them for their good work,”Enanga said.

He noted that a police team tasked to investigate the matter is looking into all the allegations and the previous misconduct and illegal actions of their own officer before he is held accountable for his discreditable actions.

“We urge any other members who could have been victimized by the officer to register their complaints with the Regional CID officer, Kampala Metropolitan South, Headquarters at Katwe.”

The police mouthpiece however applauded the media and members of the public for taking keen interest in how officers use authority and reporting the same.

“Exposing such officers is critical to ridding the force of bad officers. We do further want to reassure them, that management is doing its very best, to ensure all ranks are cleared of all forms of corrupt practices and that all officers involved in any illegal activity, are brought to justice,”Enanga said.

Background

A number of police officers have in the recent years have either been caught red handed or implicated by members of the public in acts that tarnish the force’s name.

President Museveni in 2018 said the Police force has for long been infiltrated by criminals that he openly referred to as “weevils” noting that these had made it hard to fight crime.

“The criminals can be arrested but the hindrance has been that police has been infiltrated by bean weevils (criminals); we shall get them,”Museveni said on March 8, 2018 during the celebrations to mark the International Women’s Day in Mityana District.

Last year, a number of senior police officers led by the former Inspector General of Police, Gen.Kale Kayihura were arrested by the army and arraigned before the General Court Martial over charges related to kidnap of Rwandan refugees and repatriate them back to Rwanda.