The Joint Police Task Force has finally arrested four police operatives accused of torturing Godfrey Byamukama, the Kamwenge Town Council LC 3 chairperson. They are Fred Tumuhirwe, Patrick Muramira, Moses Kasibante and Abdul Ssemuju alias Minaana.
According to a reliable Police source, the suspects were picked up on Saturday by a combined team of Flying Squad operatives, CID and Special Operations Unit. "We spent the last five days searching for them but now we have them in custody, they could not hide from us, said the source on condition of anonymity. The suspects are said to be in custody at Nalufenya police facility in Jinja District.
Police Spokesperson, Asan Kasingye couldn't be reached for comment as his known phone numbers were off. URN has learnt that the suspects work under the Special Operations Unit (SOU), which was formed in 2014 at the peak of the operation against suspected members of the Allied Democratic Front (ADF) rebel group in Eastern Uganda.
SOU just like the Flying squad Unit operates under the direct supervision of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kale Kayihura. Kayihura is deputized by Herbert Muhangi who is the commandant Flying Squad while SOU currently has no commandant following the removal of Nixon Ayegasire, two months the ago.
Initially, police had claimed the arrest of the four officers through the media. However, some members of the Police Accounts Committee expressed anguish on Wednesday when they learnt that none of the suspects was in custody as claimed.
As a result, the Police leadership tasked Police Spokesperson, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP), Asan Kasingye to call the media and apologise for giving false information.
According to police sources, Kasingye who also doubles as forces Chief Political Commissar refused the hold a media briefing that would depict him a liar and even threatened to resign.