Fire fighters were not using truck to fetch water, PSU finds

The department of Professional Standards Unit charged with the discipline of police officers has exonerated six fire fighters who had been detained on allegations of abuse of a police fire brigade.

The six officers identified as Koye Kyenga, Tuwangye Jacob, Aron Wanyaya, Hudson Muhindo, Nelson Deli and corporal Abigaba attached to Ibanda police, western Uganda.

The fire fighters were earlier this month recorded in social media video footage which showed them fetching water from a fire hydrant at Kitookye stage in the same district.

“Somebody with a smart phone called Edison Good Friday, a resident of Kanoni, took a photograph and also recorded a video of the police doing their work and went to social media and posted that fire brigade vehicle in Ibanda district is used to supply water in the village at a cost of Uganda shillings Three hundred thousand.

This prompted an immediate investigation by the Profesional Standards Unit (PSU) whose officers were dispatched and have since established that the allegation was factually wrong and malicious.

This was revealed by police spokesperson following an investigation in the viral social media post.

According to Enanga, investigations discovered that the fire brigade truck had been grounded since April and for the last three months was not working.

“A technical team was sent and managed to repair it and that very day when the photograph was taken is the very day when they had taken it for test driving and also went to draw water from a fire hydrant and they returned to the station,” he said.

“We had arrested our officers but we have now exonerated them after this thorough investigation,” he added.

Enanga pointed out that that when it comes to misuse of government resources, the police normally takes those matters seriously and he encouraged the public to take interest in the use of police resources in respective jurisdictions.

But for example in this case, he advised the public to avoid posting false information on social media accusing people of committing crimes that they did not as it hurts the image of the victims and their families.

“We know police draws attention with every activity we do but please bring out the information surrounding police officers correctly so that it can help us as well,” he said.