The police have come under the spotlight again after documentary evidence showed that senior officials of the National Resistance Movement influenced the Force to arrest the mayor of Hoima Town Council, Francis Atugonza.
Mr Atugonza, who is also the secretary for trade and Industry in the Forum for Democratic Change party, was in December last year arrested and charged with abuse of office for allegedly selling the town council’s land to a telecommunication company without the council’s authority. He denied the charge in the Anti-Corruption Court.
According to documents seen by Saturday Monitor, the arrest of Mr Atugonza was allegedly politically orchestrated by the Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Service, Mr Henry Muganwa Kajura with whom the has a long-term disagreements.
The orders
Saturday Monitor has seen a written directive from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to the Police Commander in–charge of the Anti- Corruption Department, asking him to work with Minister Kajura during the entire investigations to ensure that Mr Atugonza is produced in court.
“Thoroughly and speedily investigate those complaints [against Atugonza),” reads a directive from the Inspector General of Police to the head of police anti-corruption department. “Closely work with the second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public service.”
When the IGP’s directive reached the head of Anti-Corruption police, he directed a junior officer, whose name was not revealed in the document, to investigate the matter with the help of Hoima District NRM general secretary, Mr David Kaboyo, Hoima Resident District Commissioner, Ms Martha Asiimwe and the Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Walter Iryama.
More investigations
“Thoroughly investigate this case and ensure that the culprits are produced before court,” reads an order from the head of Anti-Corruption Department.
It is not clear why the IGP was relying on senior NRM officials to investigate Mr Atugonza who is a known opposition figure in the region. Under the Ugandan laws, the police force is supposed to be non-partisan, and is not supposed to be under the guidance or control of any individual or authority while performing its duties.
The head of Anti-Corruption Department also ordered the detectives to investigate the source of Shs30m paid by the FDC Hoima District Chairman, Mr Jackson Wabyona, to bail out Mr Atugonza from prison.
Mr Atugonza, who is also a member of FDC National Executive Committee, came into limelight in April , 2009 when he was arrested by the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force and CMI operatives and taken to Kololo torture cells. He claimed to have been beaten by security operatives before being dumped at Old Kampala Police Station after a severe search for him mounted by FDC and human right activists.
When Saturday Monitor contacted police spokesperson Judith Nabakoba yesterday, she refused to comment on the matter but the Commissioner of Police in-charge of Anti-Corruption, Mr Joseph Otim, said he was not aware of any form of political influence behind the case.
“Whenever letters come to the IGP, the IGP can comment on them and send them to us,” Mr Otim said, “After seeing the comments, I instruct my officers to open a file. “You should understand that with issues of corruption, we try to get attention of everybody because we are all stake holders. May be that is why all those officers were informed about the case.”
Mr Otim, who investigated all the four cases against Mr Atugonza, said yesterday that the Director of Public Prosecution informed him last week that three cases; one relating to the misused of council property, the second relating to illegal sale of land to Link Bus Limited and the third relating to hiring an illegal tax collector, will be dropped.
Survives ousting
Last year, Mr Atugonza survived being ousted when the NRM Secretary General, Mr Amama Mbabazi, prevailed upon all NRM councillors on the town council executive committee to resign. Mr Mbabazi reasoned that without NRM-leaning councillors on his side, Mr Atugonza would fail to constitute another executive committee and would thus be forced out. Indeed all the councillors resigned, except one, an NRM-leaning independent.
“What are you doing on Atugonza and FDC’s executive? You should resign and if Atugonza fails to constitute an executive within 60 days, he will be thrown out of office and fresh elections shall be organised,” Mr Mbabazi is quoted to have said then.
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