By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
The State has today, 5th March, 2024 dropped charges against 7 senior police officers previously accused alongside former police chief, Lt. Gen Kale Kayihura. The charges were dismissed by the General Court Martial.
The charges included aiding and abetting the kidnap of Rwandan refugees and failing to protect war materials.
The freed officers include the former CID Chief, Col Ndahura Atwooki, ACP Herbert Muhangi, SSP Nixon Agasirwe, Richard Ndaboine, Patrick Muramira, Jonas Ayebaza a former PA to Kayihura and Muyomba Kitagenda. They have been in court since August 2018.
Col Ndahura Atwooki while speaking to the media thanked the Commander in Chief, President Museveni for finally letting them go free. He also particularly thanked his wife for tirelessly fighting for his release.
It was alleged that between the year 2012 and 2016, by omission and commission, the group aided and abetted the actions of subordinate police officers and others on various occasions without hindrance to kidnap and illegally repatriated Rwandan exiles, refugees and Ugandan citizens to Rwanda including Lt. Joel Mutabazi, Jackson Karemera and Sgt. Innocent Karisa.
They were also charged with failure to protect war materials contrary to section 122(1) (2) (d) of the UPDF Act 2005.
The state further alleged that between the year 2010 and 2018 the police officers on various occasions allowed the issue of arms and ammunitions to unauthorized persons including members of Boda boda 2010 led by one Abdullah Kitatta.
The group was also accused of failure to supervise and ensure accountability for the arms and ammunitions issued to specialized units under the office of the Inspector General of Police including the Flying Squad, Special Operations Unit, witness protection unit and the Crime Intelligence directorate of the police force.
Their boss, Gen Kale Kayihura was later pardoned by President Museveni on 30th August, 2023 with all criminal charges against him dropped.
