Namayingo District chairman, Police chief go bare knuckles

Namayingo District leadership and locals have petitioned the Inspector General of Police to transfer the District Police Commander, Joseph Kamukama, over corruption.

Led by LCV Chairman Ronald Sanya, they allege that Kamukama received a bribe from proprietors of Bugiri Sugar factory to fight the operations of CN Sugar Ltd in their area.

Considering last week's high handedness by Police to quell a peaceful demonstration staged by Namayingo locals over government's closure of CN Sugar Ltd, the district leadership and security bosses held a stakeholders meeting at Nsango Village, Namayingo Town Council to resolve the impasse.

In the meeting, Chairman Sanya shocked the audience when he accused Kamukama of corruption.

Ssanya said he has audios when the DPC was promising him huge sums of money if he bows out the save 'CN Sugar Factory' campaign.

"I have already submitted audio recordings to his supervisors where he was asking me to bow out of the fight to save CN Sugar Factory where he (DPC) promised to take me to Bugiri Sugar Factory to give me money in return," Ssanya told the meeting.

Chaired by Deputy Resident Commissioner Trevor Solomon Baleke, the meeting attended by Police, area Members of Parliament, residents and local leaders resolved that they petition the Inspector General of Police to transfer Kamukama.

"I have already written to the Inspector General of Police asking him to transfer the DPC immediately because he is against development in our area," Sanya said.

The DPC denied any wrongdoing, telling Nile Post that his action follows a directive by Minister of Trade and industry, Francis Mwebesa, halting the operation of CN Sugar in Namayingo.

"I intervened following intelligence reports that Sanya was inciting locals to burn trucks belonging to Bugiri Sugar," Kamukama said.

He admitted calling Chairman Sanya boss but said it was not to convince him go accept a bribe.

"I only talked to the Chairman about the directive and asked him why he is against government since the riots won't help to solve any problem," he said.

Accoding to deputy RDC Baleke, the minister's directive stopping CN Sugar Ltd construction was addressed to CN Sugar.

"We are yet to receive a directive from the minister asking us the district security committee to act," Baleke said.

He also faulted the DPC for using excessive force on unarmed people who were going to meet their leaders at the district.

"I was told that the people were dressed in our hood colours "yellow" with President Museveni's portrait going to meet their leaders at the district but Police teargassed them, shot live bullets in the air and arrested many, that was not good," he said.

Baleke promised to investigate the matter and should Police be found to be on the wrong, individual errant officer will face disciplinary action, he warned.

He also wondered why the private security  guards at the factory were disarmed by Police yet they are guarding highly expensive equipment at the site.

Following complaints that several property at the factory were vandalised since last week when Police took charge of the security, Baleke ordered for investigations to ensure that culprits are brought to book.

"If private security guards have any cases to answer they should be arrested, but not to confiscate their guns which they have legally," he said.

There is an impasse in Namayingo following the closure of CN Sugar Ltd factory where close to 600 people have been earning a living.

The locals and leaders say this factory has turned into their source of livelihood following the restrictions on the Lake.

CN Sugar Ltd is the first and the only factory in the border district.