The Butaleja District Police Commander, Thomas Kamugisha, is under investigation for allegedly assaulting and breaking a civilian’s hand during the recent presidential and parliamentary elections.
It is claimed that a day before the February 18th polls, Kamugisha and about a dozen police officers attacked Abdullah Rahman Benya, a resident of Nakabi village, Maizimasa sub-county.
Benya says he was assaulted during a brawl involving supporters of the Bunyole East parliamentary candidates, Emmanuel Dombo and Yusuf Mutembuli in Nabweyo trading center. He says he rushed to the nearest police station in Kachonga for help, but received none. He offered to carry out a citizen’s arrest and with the approval of police returned to Nabweyo and detained a couple of people who started the fight.
Benya claims that on his return to the police station at about 1:00 a.m., he and three of his friends were approached by a vehicle, registration number UAJ 005X in which the District Police Commander was traveling.
Then all hell broke loose.
Benya says Thomas Kamugisha demanded to know on whose authority he had carried out the detentions. He says that when he tried to defend himself, Kamugisha and the policemen escorting him beat him up with the butt of their guns.
Benya says those held for causing the violence were freed by the police commander. He says his protests of innocence were ignored and his hand was broken.
Diana Nandaula, the eastern regional police spokesperson, says Abdullah Benya will be examined by a police doctor to assess the extent of his injuries. She says when the medical report is received investigations against the District Police Commander will be sanctioned.
Nandaula says the police cannot take Benya at his word. She says it is likely that he fought with his wife and broke his arm and so all aspects of the case need to be thoroughly investigated before against can be brought against Thomas Kamugisha.
Kamugisha has not publicly commented on the allegation.
During the parliamentary campaigns, Benya was a chauffer for Yusuf Mutembuli, the Democratic Party candidate for the Bunyole East seat.
Much of the campaign period in Bunyole East was characterized with violence from candidates’ supporters.
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