Well, the latest is that Police four days ago managed to arrest the supposed key suspect but yet unofficial reports coming in indicate, that the same has been since `exonerated` from wrong doing and instead, set to be placed in the witness position. But as is, it remains an unconfirmed report. We however, can exclusively report that Oscar Lutaaya was arrested and detained at Jinja Road Police about four days ago. However, as we went to press last night, reports were rife that he was out.

For starters, Lutaaya is a common name around town as a junk of all shabby trades there is to mention. Indeed, without spending much of your time on this limited space, a mere google search will come in handy. Whereas we are yet to peep into his hitherto preferred charges, we suspect him to be one of the end receivers of the dollars widely reported to have been drawn from Nile Energy Account at Stanbic Bank.

Indeed, unlike earlier reports tagging Petrom Limited Company to other people, Oscar is the registered Director of Petrom Limited, also known as GM Petrom Bulk Facility and Holdings Ltd. Via his precise online cv, he also poses as a Foreign Trade Specialist at Government of Uganda from January 2018 to present, Consultant Oil & Gas at Ministry of Defense (MOD) from February 2014 to January 2017, GM at Petrom Bulk Facility & Holdings Ltd from February 2011 to January 2017, and Territory Manager at Jade Petroleum from July 2010 to September 2013.

The Latest Gathered Chronology:

 The latest we have gathered, of course laced with the known flashback in public arena, a gentleman, Tefera Okubaslassie Robel, an Eritrean Refugee, allegedly impersonating one of Nile Energy Account co-signatory Mohamed Abdul Hakim Hussein, entered Stanbic Bank branch at Garden City on February 2^nd 2023.

He reportedly presented an envelope to Moses Ayesiga, the Branch Manager. Opening the envelope, Moses found it harbored two inter-account transfer instructions complete with Hakim`s Kenyan passport. The total amount was meant to be transferred to two accounts, one with USD287,000, and another for USD295,000. Moses positively acted on the instructions and gave the slips back to Tefera.

But whereas everything looked normal, he noticed something abnormal. One of the accounts onto which the money was transferred had been dormant for long. He didn’t take it lying back. He went onto the system and sent a red alert to the Risk and Compliance Department about his reservations. The following day, the same person entered the bank with other instructions, now to a tune of USD988,200.

This time, the instructions were delivered to a customer service consultant, Catherine Namuzibwa who, also sensed some inaccuracies and alerted Moses who, in return checked for any response from the red alert he had raised. There was no response and this is when he elected to bend the regulations. He took it upon himself to initiate a call to Hakim’s co-signatory, Abdulswamad Hussein who, denied any knowledge of the transaction.

Matter of the fact, he swore, by the time of the call, he was actually in company of his co-signatory Hakim. He requested Moses to get hold of the impersonator as they immediately dashed to Garden City. By the time they reached, Tefera was long placed onto handcuffs by the internal security. From here, we have separately gathered new details upon whose divergence, we shall flow well on…

Tefera Speaks Out  

Whereas in earlier reports we noted that Tefera seemed too composed upon his arrest and wondered why, we have chanced to get his side of the story which might as well, explain shock as the result. Why? For the new entrants` sake, Tefera says he deals in aluminum products and fabrications around Bunga in Makindye Division. Here, he says that close to two weeks before, he was approached by a female lady familiar to him.

The lady suggested that she was looking for someone dealing in the same business, but preferably an Eritrean or a Somali. Tefera found it a little strange why someone would insist on one`s origin when they need a service done by many and everywhere. The lady told him that the people who needed his services had been overly swindled by Ugandans and were fade up on them. She convinced him how Ugandans were unreliable people and hence, the need for his nationals of his origin. He was convinced and agreed to an appointment.

February 2^nd 2023 was the day. The lady introduced him to two gentlemen whom, he reportedly found seated in a Landcruiser with supposed Government Plates of Ug series, parked in the Garden City basement. They chanted him into visiting their construction site and make quotations for them. After this, it was time for him to leave but one of his new `clients` asked for his favor. They were still busy discussing something and if he didn’t mind, he could help them drop an envelope to the bank manager upstairs, just for a few minutes.

Just dropping an envelope? He willingly offered and off, he went to Stanbic and straight to the Bank Manager, Moses Ayesiga. He delivered the envelope. Moses attended to him as earlier explained in the intro paras of this piece. After handling the transactions, he handed the slips back to Tefera who delivered the same back to his waiting `clients` in the basement. They were so happy and tipped him some bucks for transport.

The following day, he received a call from one of them, to come and pick some deposit for the works they wanted him to handle. “But sir, I haven’t even visited the site to make proper quotations. How can I receive a deposit on the work whose magnitude I hardly know,” he reportedly wondered. But the caller had a ready answer. “Man, money is money. I might easily misuse it. I should just give you some of it and then reconcile ourselves after your measurements and quotations.” Tefera was on his way to see a sick relative somewhere in a health facility around Lubaga.

With someone in the hospital, he really needed money and here, the same is presenting itself on a silver platter. He jumped on the next boda-boda to Garden City. There was no time to waste. After the pleasantries, the man handed him some dollar notes which he says, he never counted but split it into two and pocketed it separately. But before he could leave, he was asked of the same favor as the previous day. He again, kowtowed to his loaded ‘clients` simple request and off, he went to Stanbic.

On seeing him again, with the same instructions as yesterday, Moses asked his colleague Catherine Namuzibwa to handle as he checked on the alert he had sent. Namuzibwa registered her concerns as explained above and, on seeing no response to his alert, Moses pushed to call Hakim`s co-signatory Abdulswamad Hussein. As he delayed with his verifications, Tefera was restless and on two occasions, he called his `clients` informing them that the bankers were taking too long yet he wanted to proceed to the hospital. But they asked him to wait. However, it was not long when Hakim and Hussein trotted in.

“So, it’s you f**l who`s stealing our money!” Hakim reportedly started shouting and lamenting endlessly. As luck would have it for Tefera, his `client` called and he immediately pleaded; “I know nothing about these accusations. Good thing is the person who sent me is here calling. He`s just down in the basement. Kindly help me use this chance and get the right person who is stealing from you.” But the enraged Hakim didn’t want to hear Tefera`s story until the call went unanswered. Two minutes after, the `client` called again.

“He is calling again, please let’s go get him!” Tefera reportedly pleaded but Hakim`s answer was that such was police work to handle. “Just pick him and tell him to come over,” he reportedly shouted back. Indeed, Tefera this time picked and asked the caller to `kindly come up to the bank` but, he instantly lost him. Lad just switched off as Hakim continued; “Let’s go to police and you explain from there.” At this time, Tefera knew he had been set up. He gave up and accepted whatever Allah had ahead of him. It is at police, he says, he got to know the amount his `clients` had deposited him and the same was to turn an exhibit against him!

One would wonder why Hakim never had interest in grabbing the golden chance of getting hold of the exact person who Tefera claimed to have sent him to fleece his Account! But he didn’t anyway! Our efforts to know if the investigators were interested in collecting any available footage around the facility, in a bid to get the real people who reportedly sent Tefera, fell on flat face. “This is a protected investigation,” an authoritative officer offered on anonymity condition.

Possible Internal Job

Our deeper investigations have further gathered that someone or some people within the bank could be part of the racket whose members` identity, it is widely feared, could be replaced with those of Bank Managers Moses Ayesiga, David Ssekitto and their other incarcerated juniors! Reason? The Risk and Compliance Department officials` nonresponsive gesture leaves a lot to desire. This stance, even when, recently, the Account holders placed indemnities on their Account but the same, were too, ignored.

In our information granary lies an untold story of how, an email was sent to a one Bonny Tinka, the handler of this particular Account, days before the fraud took place. And in the email contents, was an instruction notifying him that signatories would change and he should honor, however, Tinka forgot, ignored and, or deliberately declined to proceed with the request from the client, the Nile Energy Limited.

He however, allegedly reasons that his act was due to assumption that the instructions should be in form of a written hard copy (and in pen with own handwriting), request scanned and sent to him. Surprisingly, the fraud and investigations team has chosen to leave this piece of information out of their tight armpits! Knowledgeable sources suggest that had he honored this instruction, maybe the fraud would never have happened at all.

Again, it should be noted that the Nile Energy account could, seemingly have both an email and third-party indemnity. Informed bankers inform us that a third-party indemnity gives powers to the bank to honor all instructions from the client presented to the bank through a third party like an agent, secretary, personal assistant, driver and the like as long as the agents details are captured into the banks system.

Back to Oscar Lutaaya

By the time we closed business last night, word had it that Lutaaya had negotiated his release by offering to become a `state witness` of sorts. If this account is true, any knowledgeable brain with crime investigative instincts can tell that this is a case being prepared for its final burial. However, other yet unconfirmed sources insist that he was arrested and already remanded. Whichever case, the only prayer by especially the incarcerated Bankers` friends and relatives would only be that their own are not turned into sacrificial lambs.

We further gather that, even when all were sent back to prison on Tuesday until March 16^th, most of the suspects attached to this case were reportedly produced at High Court Kampala via a special production warrant yesterday. This development, in a bid to secure them a bail.  But this stance, with Moses, the whistle blower whom we have always feared he could be placed as a prime suspect, suspiciously missing on the list. The presiding judge reportedly asked for time to peruse the file… Watch this space…

In his speech, Ochola preached to the officers to leave the police institution “retiring” but not “tired” of doing public good. He therefore called upon them to always see themselves as good emissaries of Uganda Police Force and never allow any selfish interest to blemish the integrity and wisdom they have nurtured over the years in the institution that, according to him, has great discipline.

He (Ochola) thanked the officers for concluding the tough, challenging, and at times thankless and heartbreaking years of their Police service. The officers will, after many years of strenuous police duties, be relieved of the compulsory strains with honor and dignity, leaving such a legacy for those who are still in service, to look at with admiration and gratitude for a job well -done. 

At the farewell function at the Police headquarters in Naguru, the Uganda Police Force retired 155 Cops including 59 Inspectors, 48 Sergeants, 27 Corporals, and 21 Constables. Below is the IGP’S full Speech during the official send-off of retired officers

December 10, 2021

It is with joy and deep sense of satisfaction that I preside over this ceremony, to officially send off our retired officers. A month ago, we held a similar event in this very venue when we convened to bid farewell to retired gazetted officers that included Directors. 

Today, we are gratified to send off retired officers from the rank of Inspector of Police and below. As Uganda Police Force (UPF) management, we hold these farewell functions as a sign of appreciation to our officers who conclude the tough, challenging, and at times thankless and heartbreaking years of Police service. 

As you realize, quite a big number of officers join the service and many are unable to attend such functions as a result of deaths, desertion, discharges, voluntary resignation, and disciplinary or criminal misconducts that lead them to prison.   

It is, therefore, only through such a gathering that we are accorded a lifetime opportunity to express gratitude, respect, reverence and honor to our own officers whose invaluable contribution are hardly brought to light.

We all know that you started service in this institution when you were many but some of the colleagues you joined with, fell by the wayside. It is truly remarkable that a few of you endured and diligently served our country to attain this impressive milestone in your life with great integrity.

After many years of strenuous police duties, you are now relieved from the compulsory strains with honor and dignity, and it is for this reason that those who are still in service, should look at you with admiration and gratitude for a job well -done.  

Therefore, consider this function as collective token of appreciation for a great journey of your achievements and beautiful memories.

As retired Police officers, you left this institution “retiring” but not “tired” of doing public good.   I, therefore, call upon you to always see yourselves as good emissaries of Uganda Police Force and never allow any selfish interest to blemish the integrity and wisdom you have nurtured over the years in this great disciplinary institution. 

I strongly believe going by your antecedents and the manner you have conducted yourselves over the years in service, and, the skill and knowledge acquired, you surely remain our mirrors and ambassadors wherever you will be.

As for the few post – service challenges that await you, I have no doubt that the tough policing challenges that you experienced were adequate to prepare you for greater challenges ahead, and to nurture you to build a strong foundation for the current new chapter in life. I implore you to remain honest to yourselves, sincere, humble to fellow beings and affectionate to your family members and the community.

In a special way, allow me extend great appreciation to your spouses and other family members that have kept at your side through thick and thin. 

To accomplish police duties, it requires amazing, loving, and supportive families with a tremendous amount of faith, love, mercy, endurance and grace. I, therefore, request your family members to continue rendering you the necessary support as you adopt to the new life.

I also wish to acknowledge with gratitude the day’s facilitators for the knowledge given to our colleagues. Your topics have been very enriching and insightful.

Finally, let me once again thank each and every one of you for your valuable contributions to the UPF. It was a pleasure for all of us to work with you on every occasion. Please, accept my best wishes for your personal happiness and success. May God continue to give you success as you cope up with the retirement period.

Thank you very much.

J.M. Okoth-Ochola, (Esq.)

INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE

South Africa’s decision, is bound to have negative implications for the entertainment sector, that has hitherto been positively embraced by several countries that abundantly availed our artistes with entry VISAS. 

With several theories of what would have transpired before the duo was unceremoniously sent back home, one of the most important is an issue involving the `deportation` of South African veteran singer Yvonne Ntombizodwa Moloko Machaka aka Chaka-Chaka by Uganda, about three years ago.

On 31st December 2019, Immigration officials deported Chaka Chaka hours to her slated performance at a show dubbed ‘Nkuuka’ organized by the Buganda Kingdom’s Central Broadcasting Corporation (CBS) at Lubiri Palace in Kampala city.

At the time, security officials cordoned off Pearl of Africa Hotel (AYA) in Nakasero, Kampala and ordered Abbey Musinguzi aka Abitex, Chaka’s Uganda promoter, and other groups to leave the hotel.

Later, a security task team that was working closely with the immigration officials at the time escorted the artiste to Entebbe International Airport where she boarded the waiting flight back to South Africa via Kigali. 

The police spokesperson Fred Enanga was later to inform the nation how the musician had been granted an ordinary visa as a visitor to Uganda, which was cancelled by immigration officials after it was realized that she had come as a performing artist.

However, it should be noted that at the time, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, had declared his intension to run for the presidency of Uganda and coincidentally Chaka-Chaka promoter here, Abitex, happened to be one of his earths while supporter and thus the allegation that Chaka-Chaka had been deported for political reasons.

What many thought would be an issue washed under the carpet by authorities in South Africa, has now come back to haunt the entertainment industry in Uganda, with the latest deportation of the two singers.

It should be noted that though many other Ugandans have fallen victim of this new entry visa ‘feud’, it is a blow to the sector, since it has been one of the most sought-after hub, where artistes have been pocketing millions of shillings for performance deals and also a preferred destination for video shoots.

Immigration experts further informed us that with the current visa storm in the international media radar and travel manifests, it would in the future affect visa issuance to other artistes by other countries.

There is already an insider alert at the American Embassy in Uganda over UNAA convention destined artistes and participants after it emerged that many were using it as an avenue to access the country and thus now whoever applies for the same is subjected to more intense and stringent terms for clearance. 

 According to the US immigration law, foreign artists and entertainers entering the country to perform must obtain a P-3 visa, which allows an individual to temporarily perform, teach or coach as artists or entertainers, individually or as part of a group, under a program that is culturally unique.

Some of the artistes who have since fallen victim to ignorance of requirement are Maureen Nantume, Kasozi aka Mariachi, Ragga Dee, Rema Namakula and media personality Fifi Da Queen. 

While the move is understandable in light of the spike in the number of Corona infections, the government did not make any provision for the needy as well as Ugandans who are daily earners. The Prime Minister’s office is currently struggling to find money to give out to five hundred and thirty people government identified as the ones deserving of relief, out of the forty five million Ugandans.

The Police had been called to investigate the theft of three tons of maize flour, when its officers grabbed even the remaining three tons of the relief. Unidentified people had broken into the stores where the food was being kept before it could be distributed to the beneficiaries, when police officers from Kibuye station came for the remaining bags of the flour.

The Member of Parliament for Makindye Ssaabagabo, Dr. Charles Sserukenya upon discovering the stores he had rented to keep the food relief breached, went and made a report to the police. “The Police instead of assisting me to track down the thieves, grabbed the remaining food themselves”, Sserukenya curses.

Police accuses Dr. Sserukenya of gathering people while distributing the posho, hence exposing them to the Corona virus. “Police is lying. How can they accuse me of distributing posho which was in the stores”? The legislator weighs in.

Dr. Sserukenya says he is lucky he had made a report to the police itself otherwise the Force would have framed him up with some funny criminal charges. “Thank God, I have the case reference number. Those people (Police) would have framed me up in absence of the case reference number,” Dr. Sserukenya adds.

Sserukenya denies he was going to gather people and hand each of the beneficiary their share of the posho, clarifying he was going to surrender the relief to the area Corona task force to give out to the people.

Police has video images of the posho purportedly being distributed. But Sserukenya counters, it is police who distributed some of the posho after grabbing the foodstuff in order to incriminate him. Residents of the constituency are worried Police is going to feed on their posho.

“We don’t trust police at all. Police is full of filches. They steal exhibits. They frame up innocent people. They even steal or hide case files after getting bribes. How can one trust such crooked characters?” a local wondered.

The locals point out how majority of members of the Uganda Police are broke people who won’t hesitate to cook and eat their food now that it is in their hands. “They will eat the food and claim later how thieves broke into the police station and stole the posho”, they claim in unison.

The locals appeal to the Inspector General of Police, Martins Okoth Ocholla to prevail over his people and release the food relief. “We ask Mr. Ocholla to tell his people to release our food. We can’t starve just because police took our food,” they state.

The decision impacts on various offices including heads of departments, Regional Police Commanders (RPCs), District/Divisional Police Commanders (DPCs) and others.

Releasing the message for public consumption last night, the Deputy Police Spokesperson ACP Polly Namaye noted thus; “The officers are tasked with ensuring professional and efficient delivery of all police services in their area of jurisdiction. These transfers are normal and take immediate effect.”

Below is the message in detail:

1. SSP NAHYUHA ROSE HELLEN FROM COURSE TO DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN AFFAIRS AS AG. CP WOMEN AFFAIRS.
2. SSP KAKAMBA PAUL FROM KMP/SOUTH TO AIRPORT AS CHIEF JOINT SECURITY OFFICER (CISO)
3. SSP AKOTH CAROLINE FROM SAVANNAH TO RAILWAY POLICE AS COMMANDANT.
4. ACP RUHWEZA JAMES FROM AIRPORT TO KMP/S AS RPC
5. ACP MULUYA FROM RAILWAY TO MBARARA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AS SECURITY OFFICER.
6. SSP NALWOGA SUSAN EDITH FROM COURSE TO SAVANNAH AS RPC
7. SP NSABA CHARLES FROM COURSE TO KMP/NORTH AS D/RPC
8. SP KICONCO JOHNSON FROM KMP – N TO ELGON AS D/RPC
9. SP BYARUHANGA BENSON MWOROZI FROM COURSE TO KATWE KMP/SOUTH AS DPC
10. SP KINYERA BONIFACE FROM MANAFA TO NAMAYINGO AS DPC
11. SP EGWANGU GEOFREY FROM NAMAYINGO TO HRM POL. HQTRS PENDING INVESTIGATIONS BY PSU.
12. SPADEKE ESTHER TUMUSIIME FROM COURSE TO KIBAALE AS DPC.
13. ASP OTABONG DAVID FROM KIBAALE TO KOLE AS DPC.
14. ASP AKANKWATSA EDGAR FROM BUYENDE TO HRM POL. HQTRS PENDING INVESTIGATIONS BY PSU.
15. ASP KACUMU ROBERT FROM MUTAMBALA TO HRM POL. HQTRS PENDING INVESTIGATIONS BY PSU.
16. SP KIHAMBA JOSEPH FROM COURSE TO BUTAMBALA AS DPC
17. SP ETIMA TWAHA FROM COURSE TO KAZO AS DPC.
18. ASP KINENE A KELLY FROM KAZO TO SAVANNAH AS REGIONAL CLO.
19. ASP NIWAGABA HERBERT FROM KIRA RD TO HRM POL. HQTRS PENDING DEPLOYMENT.
20. SP TURYASINGURA MATHIAS FROM COURSE TO KIRA RD AS DPC.
21. ASP MUSINGUZI DENNIS FROM SSEMBABULE TO HRM POL. HQTRS PENDING INVESTIGATIONS.
22. SP BINDEEBA DICKENS FROM COURSE TO SSEMBABULE AS DPC.
23. SP ONDOGA TONNY FROM KATAKWE TO HRM PENDING DEPLOYMENT.
24. SP KAPERE RODGERS FROM BUNYANGABO TO KATAKWI AS DPC.
25. ASP NDIITA NASIB FROM KIRUHURA TO BUNYANGABO AS DPC.
26. SP TIBAKIRANA MUSA FROM COURSE TO KIRUHURA AS DPC.
27. SP OCEN PETER AUSTINE FROM COURSE TO KAABONG AS DPC.
28. SP MUHWEZO DONALD FROM COURSE TO ISINGIRO AS DPC.
29. SP ERIMU RICHARD FROM ISINGIRO TO HRM PENDING DEPLOYMENT
30. SP ONGICHA MICHEAL FROM NAPAK TO HRM PENDING DEPLOYMENT.
31. SP MURUNGI GAD FROM MBARARA TO NAPAK AS DPC.
32. SP MUSIIMENTA JOHN RUTAGIR FROM COURSE TO MBARARA AS DPC.
33. SP KINTU DICKENS FROM COURSE TO RUKUNGIRI AS DPC.
34. ASP MUZOORA KANARURA FROM AGULE P/P-PALLISA  TO MASINDI AS OC STN.
35. ASP BALYEGONZA RICHARD FROM KIRYANDONGO TO LWEMIYAGA SEMBABULE AS OC STN
36. ASP OKWI ERIENY MUSA FROM KIRUHURA TO BUGAMBA P/STN – RWAMPARA AS OC STN.
37. ASP OKELLO KENNEDY FRO M HRM POL. HQTRS TO KIRUHURA AS OC STN
38. ASP ASIIMWE ALBERT FROM NTENJERU – MUKONO TO NYEIHANGA CPS RWAMPARA AS OC STN.
39. ASP NALWOGA SOPHIA FROM MUNI UNIVERSITY TO SOROTI AS OC STN NAKATUNYA.
40. ASP NASHUHA EVA FROM KYABUGIMBI- BUSHENYI TO OC MUNI UNIVESITY POLICE STN.
41. ASP AKAMPULIRA BRIAN FROM KUMI TO WANDEGEYA DIV. AS OC STN
42. ASP KANANURA JOSHUA FROM WERA P/P AMURIA TO CPS KUMI AS OC STN.
43. ASP KYOSABIRE BEATRICE FROM BUSUNJU – MITYANA TO KAWEMPE REFERRRAL HOSPITAL AS SECURITY OFFICER.
44. ASP MAFABI JOHN FROM BUJENJE – MASINDI TO BUSUBJU P/STN – MITYANA AS OC.
45. ASP TAYEBWA APOLLO FROM JINJA RD TO NAMAYINGO AS OC STN.
46. ASP ACIDRI XAVIER FROM NAMAYINGO TO ISHAKA P/STN AS OC STN
47. D/SSP TAREMWA MOSES FROM COURSE TO CID HQTRS.
48. D/SP OZELLO JOHN BOSCO FROM COURSE TO CID HQTRS
49. D/ASP NAKAWALA JULIET FROM NANSANA TO CID HQTRS PENDING INVESTIGATIONS BY PSU.
50. D/ASP CHEPCHUMBA STELLA FROM CI HQTR IS REGRADED TO G/DUTIES AND TRANSFERRED TO SIPI AS R/HRO.
51. D/ASP BAJOOZI ENOCK FROM KYOTERA TO HRM PENDING INVESTIGATIONS BY PSU.
52. D/ASP MUGUMYA RAYMOND FROM CI HQTR TO ICT DIRECTORATE HQTR
53. D/ASP KWEBIHA SARAPIO FROM CI HQTR TO POL HQTR AS COUNTER INTELLIGENCE OFFICER.
54. D/ASP NAMUYONJO MIRIA IS REGRADED TO G/DUTIES AND TRANSFERRED TO SPORTS DEPT – DIRECTORATE OF WELFARE.
55. D/ASP NATUHAMYA LEVIUS FROM KMP/E TO HRM AS STAFF OFFICER REGISTRIES.
56. D/ASP KAKAIRE BADRU FROM INTERPOL TO HRM PENDING INVESTIGATIONS.
57. D/ASP SARAH TIBESIGWA IS REGRADED TO G/DUTIES AND TRANSFERRED TO NAKWERO P/P – KASANGATI.
58. D/ASP MUNYANEZA RICHARD FROM COURSE TO CI HQTRS.
59. ASP MWESIGYE GODFREY FROM ELGON TO G.MASAKA AS RTO
60. ASP NKESIGA ANTHONY FROM G. MASAKA TO ELGON AS RTO.
61. ASP ONONO GEORGE FROM KAKUMIRO TO MUTUKULA AS OC TRAFFIC.
62. ASP ODONG DICKSON’S TRANSFER TO FROM NTUNGAMO TO KALIRO VIDE REF HRM 131-133/08/VO.5 IS CANCELLED. HE INSTEAD MOVES TO MASAKA AS OC TRAFFIC.
63. SSP BESIGYE CHRIS FROM CT TO ANTI MONEY LAUNDERING/COMBATING FINANCE TERRORISM TAST FORCE.
64. ASP NABULOBI ANNET FROM MISSION TO CI HQTRS.
65. SSP ULAMA DAVID FROM COURSE TO FFU.
66. ASP TWINAMASIKO ERISEN FROM MISSION TO FFU
67. ASP KIWANUKA SARAH FROM PHS PSC&SC BWEBAJJA TO POL. HQTRS HCII.
68. ASP MFUTINDINDA WARREN FROM BUSHENYI TO LUWEEO FIRE STATION AS R/FIRE OFFICER.
69. ASP AGABA COLLINS FROM JINJA TO BUSHENYI FIRE STATION AS R/FIRE OFFICER.
70. ASP RUGABA BENON FROM TORORO TO HOIMA FIRE STATION AS R/FIRE OFFICER.
71. ASP OLECHA PATRICK FROM HOIMA TO TORORO FIRE STATION AS REGIONAL FIRE OFFICER.
72. ASP KAMAYO RASHID FROM LUWEERO TO JINJA FIRE STATION AS R/FIRE OFFICER.

The Uganda Police Force has earned notoriety for defaulting after eating people’s posho and beans.

A number of millers are in court complaining about the same issue while others have won cases in the courts of law, but have not been paid either.

One of the outstanding creditors are the crime preventers. These are members of public recruited by the former Police boss Gen. Kale Kayihura to render support in preventing crime in communities.

They were so close to him, the former Police boss gifted them with the lucrative tender of supplying beans and posho to the security outfit.

They have since lost favor with the President following the sacking of their godfather prompting them to go to court to recover hundreds of millions owed to them.

The latest complainant is Mukende United Millers Assembly (NUMA). They claim to have supplied posho to the Police Force on several occasions in the past. When it was time to pay, the leadership kept feeding them on empty promises.

That much as the leadership of police admit taking the feed stuff on credit and enjoying it, they are evasive about payments.

The miller comes to the commercial court with proof of having been granted a tender to feed the police which was duly performed only for the employer to bolt after taking delivery and using the feed stuffs.

The body’s executive director Peter Wandera says respective government agencies and departments should give regular and updated accountability not only at national level but also at lowest level through different platforms.

He points out the office of the prime minister, ministry of local government, Uganda prison services, Uganda police force, parliament and kampala capital City Authority as key departments among others required to avail their expenditure on funds received to fight the pandemic.

Wandera notes that availing the information to the public will enable proper monitoring which is believed to contribute towards improved service delivery.

This follows a case that was reported at Old Kampala police station on 12/9/2019, by one Kyanda Godfrey aged 42 years, a Businessman and a resident of Nansana Municipality, Wakiso district, alleging that he had been defrauded of his Shs 80 million by purported Assistant Commissioner Customs at URA aone Nkurunziza Boaz and alleged Procurement Officer Edmond Munanura.

Mr Kyanda alleged that the crime was committed during the month of August 2019 at Owino Market.

The Complainant said that during the month of June 2019, URA advertised for auctioning of motor vehicles and one Mugisha Tonny asked him to participate in the said auction.

The said Mugisha Tonny told him that he was in touch with Assistant Commissioner Customs, sitting at level six URA Tower, Nakawa and that the Commissioner would handle the process.

Mr. Kyanda was asked by the purported Commissioner to select the vehicles he was interested in according to the advert.

The accuser selected nine (9) vehicles. He and his friend met the alleged Commissioner at Sheraton hotel to discuss the deal.

The ‘Commissioner’ asked for Shs 96 million of which it included money for number plates registration, clearing with URA and considerations.

Since Mugisha Tonny is the one who coordinated the ‘commissioner’ to Kyanda, the alleged URA officer asked the complainant to pass all the money through Mugisha Tonny to deliver it to him at his office.

The complainant gave Shs 80 million to Mugisha Tonny to deliver it to ‘assistant Commissioner’ Nkurunziza Boaz and upon receipt of the same, he would call the complainant and confirm he received the money.

However, despite the alleged ‘Commissioner’ receiving the money and promising to deliver the nine vehicles to the complainant in one week, it did not happen.

The complaint did not receive even a single car and instead they all switched off their mobile phones.

Upon registering the complaint, Old Kampala Police Station investigated the case and established from the former Commissioner Customs, Mr. Kateshumbwa Dicksons who said that the Authority has never employed Nkurunziza Boaz as Assistant Commissioner Customs or Edmond Munanura as Procurement officer at the Authority, hence described them as personators and fraudsters.

Edmond Munanura was arrested, his statement was taken and stated that Nkurunziza Boaz and Mugisha Tonny are the ones who defrauded the complainant. Mugisha was later charged with fraud at LDC Court on 14/10/2019.

On 4/6/2020, through Intelligence led operation, Nkurunziza Boaz alias Mbaiine Samson was arrested from URA Licensing section Nakawa and taken to Old Kampala Police Station.

Nkurunziza Boaz has been identified by many that he is known criminal who as committed fraud related cases in Stations like Jinja Road, Kira Road and others, that he would defrauded people impersonating to be URA staff.

Uganda Police appeals to anyone, whom these thugs have defrauded to go to the nearest Police Station or to come to Old Kampala Police Station and register a case against these criminals.

Known to be the smartest Traffic Police field officer of his time, then ASP Norman Musinga would in place of controlling the infamous jam on Kampala streets, instead create the same as women drivers mostly, would occasionally slow down, just to steal a second glance at a perfect structure of the fine-dressed and well-combated young cop.

Well-schooled, full of life, gainly employed and a free bird trotting around town, what Musinga only owed his staunch Christian parents was an upright matrimonial status. Before long, he landed on a facial and bodily endowed Nyaru babe, Esther Kyinkuhaire whose soul, he believed at the time, would be perfect mates with his.

Commanding a strong fun base with fresh and young corporate class friends around Kampala, coupled with his well-known parents back home, a flashy wedding was a walk over for Musinga. And on July 17^th 2010, he and Kyinkuhaire walked down the aisle at Namirembe Cathedral, commencing a relationship which flourished with three issues (names withheld) in just five years.

Things fall apart

According to now public documents on Court record, Musinga and Kyinkuhaire’s relationship started experiencing cracks when the latter started unveiling her true character, slowly but surely scooping out one trait after another. And it didn’t take him long to notice that he had actually, not only got married to an ill-grown persona but a strong believer in witchcraft as well.

Poor Musinga’s happiness turned bizarre on confirming that his hitherto lovely wife was heavily engaged in ritual and spiritual activities associated with the Bachwezi origins. She was involved in ritual praying at a church known as ‘Divine Power Temple’.

On many occasions, Musinga would find strange ‘things’ and herbs wrapped in backcloths and other materials under their matrimonial bed. This was a heavy grief for him to carry given his Christian faith and values designed within his person since childhood. He cried, cursed, grumbled and jeered himself silly but this was the reality.

He gathered strength and shared with his relatives but with little or no concrete resolution to the problem. One day, on 24^th September 2016, he ordered his wife into the car and drove straight to her parents’ home in Sembabule where, he presented his case. But like he found out later, this was a total wastage of time. Like daughter, like parents, was the case. He elected to solve the matter himself.

If he was to retain his sanity, the marriage dissolution was inevitable. Musinga narrates that he started by restraining self from conjugal exercise with his wife. “Because the respondent (wife) was engaged in witchcraft, the petitioner (Musinga) got great fear and even feared to engage in any sexual act with her since September 2016 to date and avers that his marriage with his wife is irreconcilable in beliefs,” reads part Makindye G1 Magistrate Gakyaro Mpirwe Allan’s judgment.

In a divorce cause filed on September 23^rd 2016, SSP Musing also told Court that the couple had hitherto slept in different bedrooms for two years due to irreconcilable differences. Whereas Esther filed a response to Musinga’s divorce Petition, she, on four occasions refused to turn up at Court and defend the same. But nowhere in her filed response did she deny Musinga’s allegations against her.

Her only prayer was that court grant them a temporary separation since she believed they could still work on the reconciliation. “She also avers that the differences the parties to this case are experiencing in their marriage is normal and does not call for a divorce but for a judicial separation for some specified period,” reads the judgment.

However, His Worship Gakyaro, in his decision, held that since SSP Musinga’s wife failed to appear in court to defend herself against the law suit, court had no option but to expunge her witness statement. This meant that whatever was alleged against her, stood unchallenged. “The court having found out that the evidence of PW1 (Musinga) was not challenged and was obtained through vehement cross examination by the respondent’s counsel, I will find it credible in proof of this case.”

In his final orders signed off on 21^st Jan. 2019 H.W Gakyaro allowed the Kampala Metropolitan Traffic Commander, Norman Musinga to divorce his estranged wife, Esther Kyinkuhaire citing witchcraft as the core reason for the dissolution. Court also allowed Musinga custody of the three children who are between two and six years.

The magistrate said he had granted SSP Musinga custody of their three minors and not his estranged wife, because he was in gainful employment while she had no known source of income to comfortably look after the children. “Court evaluated and found out that PW1 (Musinga) was gainfully employed by the Police and at a senior rank in the Force.” He however granted the mother permission to visit them during holidays but only after a notification of at least one day prior to the desired visit.

Here at the Investigator, it remains our prayer that even with the divorce granted and running, the adult duo try to devise means of bringing up the children without deeply dragging them into their personal misunderstandings. Indeed, things fall apart…

At the Investigator, we were shocked by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Okoth Martins Ocholla aka OMO’s outrageous suggestions and hence this article. In particular, we were shocked to hear Counsel Ocholla telling the President that the Force needs extra 32,000 Police Officers to beef up security in the country which already has close to 50,000 officers.

This request for an additional force comes at a time when the country has already experienced a recruitment drive of over 6,000 troops that were passed out early this year, making the all-round figure of policemen rising to almost 60,000.

Mr. Ocholla’s request for an additional 32,000 will make the police-to-civilian ratio stand at one police man for every ten residents. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to deduce that accordingly, the gun-to-civilian ratio would also rise to one gun to ten Ugandans! On average it will certainly make Uganda one of the most policed countries in the world.

Conventional wisdom questions the budgetary viability of having such a huge force overseeing a mere law and order challenge.  Ordinarily such massive troop recruitment is done in the military, probably in preparations for a looming serious war.

The trends in organized societies

In more organized societies, law and order challenges are handled hand in hand with, and or between the police and the civilian population. We carried out research and found out that the world over, there has been standards set for police to population ratio. For instance in 2016, Police Departments serving cities with populations exceeding 25,000 employed an average of 16.8 officers and 21.4 total personnel for every 10,000 residents.

On average, all localities with populations of at least 50,000 employed 16.6 officers and 21.4 total personnel for every 10,000 residents in 2015, at least according to the FBI data. In a study conducted by some fellow called Nerd Wallet’s, it was revealed that Washington D.C. has more than 68 Police Staff for every 10,000 residents, giving it the highest police-to-population ratio of any city in the states. This means that 100,000 residents require just 680 Police Officers.

In essence, it means that if you use the American yardstick of police-to-resident ratio, Uganda’s close to fifty million population only require 24,000 policemen. Currently, there are 47,400 Police Officers and 396 civilian staff in the Uganda Police Force, making a random total of about 50,000.  If you add the 6,000 which were recruited recently, the figure jumps to almost 56,000.

Obviously Ugandans are already an over policed society. Now you wonder why our leadership doesn’t have a clue on police deployment trends around the world. You obviously don’t need such massive numbers of policemen in the country like Uganda. And indeed President Museveni seemed to acknowledge the un-viability of IGP Ocholla’s request when he said that during the colonial days, the Britons used very few policemen to man the whole country.

“Growing up, I noticed the British had a simple policing plan. They would police through the chiefs, muluka, Gombolola and a few askaris (Parish, Sub County and a few Security men). We were in Ntungamo but the main police station was [several miles away] in Mbarara. You would only seea black police van which we named ‘Tenda’ in Ntungamo when there had been a serious crime like murder. This concept worked then,” he retorted.

But unfortunately, giving an excuse of the now grown population, the President went on to contradict himself by casually unveiling a security plan, suggesting that every Sub County should have a Police Station, 20 police officers, two motor cycles and so on and so forth.  Given the fact that Uganda has over 2057 Sub Counties, 20 police officers for each one of them would translate into an additional 41140 police officers!

If you add it to the 56,000 Policemen already entrenched, it would add up to 97,140! While IGP Ocholla’s suggestion to recruit more 32,000 was ridiculous, as mentioned earlier, Gen. Museveni’s suggestion is laughably untenable madness.

And if his suggestion to have two motor cycles for each Sub County was to be effected, you will have 4,114 police motor cycles in the country! Phew! Does President Museveni consult his advisors before he comes up with such suggestions? Does the insecurity in the country require such man power? Even if there was insecurity of a huge magnitude, would it require such a big deployment drive?

One needs not to be a security expert to see the shallowness in the suggestions of the two security gurus. It is interesting to note that in an era of drones, both ageing top security personas of President Museveni and his IGP Ocholla don’t seem to have appreciated the technological advancement in the security sector. Countries with wise men don’t use manpower to oversee the security of their respective countries but technology.

The way forward

Perhaps if the President had reiterated his earlier idea of cameras in all Sub Counties, it would have made a lot of sense. Alternatively, we thought that the idea of local vigilance secured the country in the earlier days when the armed forces were still small in numbers.

By local vigilance accessions, it means that government would empower the village leadership to oversee security in their respective backyards in tandem with the available police. And that style of village leadership component was the key secret behind the security of this country during the colonial days which the President Museveni referred to in the first place.

Actually, President Museveni forgets that although he believes so much in military might, it was the village leaderships (Resistance Councils) that managed to stabilize most of the towns in the aftermath of his person’s-led bush war of 1981-86.

Uganda has 68,649 villages. Any security plan that doesn’t take the village leadership into account is a waste of everybody’s time. The good news is that with the village plan, you don’t need guns or motor cycles. All you need is simply a mobilization plan, then the rest can work by all itself.

One of the key tools of empowerment would simply to give radio calls to each village leadership to use in liaising with the police at any given time of commission of a crime. That alone is far better than the suggested utopian and generally unrealistic security plans of Mr. Okoth Ocholla and his Master. We rest our case…