Mr Musinga talks to Kampala traders during a strike early this year. Photo by Ismail Kezaala
Kampala – The Central Police Station Commander, Mr Norman Musinga, has been suspended following the escape of a suspect who was arrested for shooting into a crowd during an opposition rally in Namungoona, a Kampala suburb two weeks ago.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Director, Mr Andrew Felix Kaweesi ordered for the suspension of DPC Musinga as investigations continue into the matter.
Mr Musinga handed over the office to Kampala South Regional Police Commander, Philip Acaye on Thursday.
A police source, who preferred anonymity for fear of reprimand, said Mr Musinga is being investigated for charges related to the release of a suspect.
The suspension of Mr Musinga stem from an incident that happened when a man dressed in civilian clothes shot live bullets at members of Activists for Change (A4C) during a rally in Namungoona on January 24.
Mr Kaweesi, who was at the scene, ordered the commander of the Field Force Unit, Superintendent (SP) Christopher Kasalawo, to arrest him.
“SP Kasalawo arrested him on charges of illegal possession of a firearm and theft of a gun and handed him over to DPC Musinga for detention,” a source told Sunday Monitor.
But a day later, the suspect was allegedly released yet the Resident State Attorney had already sanctioned the two charges in the file, a police source said.
Mr Kaweesi gave Mr Musinga four days to look and re-arrest the suspect but these elapsed without results thus the former invoked the law.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman, Mr Ibin Ssenkumbi declined to comment on the issue.
He instead refeered Sunday Monitor to Mr Kaweesi, who did not pick repeated calls to his phone.
Mr Musinga joins a long list of officers who have been suspended on cases related to the handling of the Walk to Work campaigns that started in April last year.
A4C coordinator Mathias Mpuuga, when contacted, yesterday said the case is evidence of what he described as creation of gangs by government to hurt opposition members.
“We have always complained that police is riddled with the gangsters but no investigations have been carried out. I was personally confronted by Musinga in public that he will deal with me. This case shouldn’t mean that Kaweesi and his groups are working. They should investigate other cases were people died,” Mr Mpuuga said.
Monitor photojournalist Isaac Kasamani was reportedly shot at by a suspected security officer after covering the same rally.
By Andrew Bagala, Daily Monitor
