A police officer attached to the Environmental Protection Police Unit (EPPU) has been remanded to Luzira Prison over allegations of assault, land grabbing, extortion, and abuse of office in the areas of Kajjansi and Entebbe.
Police Constable Alex Katungi appeared before the Kajjansi Chief Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon, where he was formally charged with assaulting several individuals on different occasions, allegedly claiming they were engaged in illegal developments in wetlands.
The court heard that Katungi, who is deployed under the Ministry of Water and Environment, exceeded his mandate by violently confronting residents and developers in wetland zones, some of whom have since filed complaints of harassment, illegal arrests, and extortion.
He is jointly charged with Assistant Inspector of Police Kenneth Hadal on allegations of conspiracy to commit the offences.
The two officers were not allowed to take plea and have been remanded until April 9, 2025.
According to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, which worked with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to secure the arrests, Katungi is also under investigation for allegedly using his position to set up personal developments in wetland areas, directly violating the environmental laws he was tasked to enforce.
Authorities say more charges may follow as the probe widens into what appears to be a pattern of misconduct involving officers responsible for environmental protection.