Prime
Eight police officers convicted over Nagirinya murder, juniors demoted
Maria Nagirinya and her driver were kidnapped near her home before they were murdered in August 2019. FILE/COURTESY PHOTO
The Police Disciplinary Tribunal has convicted eight police officers accused of negligence in connection to the kidnap and murder of social worker, Maria Nagirinya and her driver, Ronald Kitayimbwa.
Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, said the Police Disciplinary Tribunal chaired by Senior Police Commissioner, Dennis Odongpiny found seven officers guilty of negligence of duty while the other officer was found guilty of discreditable conduct that tainted the police image.
“Seven officers were charged with neglect of duty. There's one officer who was charged with discreditable conduct after they professionally failed to attend to the relatives of Maria Nagirinya and Ronald Kitayimbwa. It was found that the eight defaulters actually violated requirements of duty of remaining alert and observant while on duty after some of them were absent that evening. It was also noted that there were so many errors and delays in fastracking the CCTV footage and there were also miscommunication which were made within hours after the double kidnap,” Mr Enanga said on Monday.
The convicts are Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Muhammad Byansi, the Officer in Charge of Natete Police Station, ASP Andrew Nizeyimana, ASP Allan Okello, Detective Assistant Inspector of Police (D/AIP) Sunday Baguma, Corporal Samuel Owona, Police Constable Joshua Basaliza and PC Deo Kitute.
The seven were jointly charged with Neglect of Duty contrary to section 44(1), Code 19(a), (b), (c) of the Police Act, Cap 303. Prosecution led by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Stephen Ibanda said the accused neglected duty when they failed to promptly and diligently attend to a report of kidnap, which eventually affected response towards the victims, Maria Nagirinya and her driver, Ronald Kitayimbwa.
However, Corporal Reuben Kibikwamu was charged with discreditable or irregular Conduct contrary to section Code 12 of the Police Act, Cap 303. Ibanda submitted that Corporal Kibikwamu acted in a manner likely to discredit the reputation of the Uganda Police Force and cause injury to public service when he failed to professionally attend to the relatives of Nagirinya and Kitayimbwa, who sought his assistance.
Mr Enanga said much as all the officers were found guilty; only two juniors Cpl Kibikwamu and Cpl Owana have been demoted to Police Constables while their commanders including ASP Byansi, ASP Nizeyimana, ASP Okello and AIP Baguma have been given reprimands.
Reprimand means an officer would be suspended or expelled from the police force if he or she ever commits another crime. Corporal Kibikwamu was demoted because he remained seated with his legs on top of the table as he was found by Nagirinya’s relatives. He reportedly told them off, saying kidnaps were not among his duties for that night.
Corporal Owana was in charge of the signal center and failed to send out an alert for appropriate action to be taken to rescue Nagirinya.
Nagirinya and her driver were kidnapped outside her home gate in Lungujja on August 28 and later found murdered in Mukono District.
Her father, Francis Lubowa blamed police for failing to act to save her life. President Museveni ordered for their arrest after speaking to Lubowa on phone where he expressed disappointment with the police failure to respond to their pleas for help to save Nagirinya.
