New Inspector General of Police Abbasi Byakagaba
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KAMPALA- The Uganda Police Force has defended the delayed arrests of officers behind the execution of the six suspected robbers gunned down around Kampala due to the need to establish facts before actions like arrest are taken in order to ensure that justice isn’t denied to the deceased in case decision are rushed, only for the case to backfire in courts.

The defence has been made by both Kahinda Otafiire, Minister of Internal Affairs and Abasi Byakagaba, Inspector General of Police while appearing before Parliament’s Defence and Internal Affairs Committee to present the 2025/26 Budget Framework Paper for Uganda Police.

The remarks followed questions raised by Betty Nambooze MP Mukono Municipality and Theodore Ssekikubo mpfor Lwemiyaga county  for Police to explain the extrajudicial killings committed by its officers where some of the suspected robbers were shot even while on handcuffs, and how far Police has gone in arresting their own that shot Julius also asked for an update on how far Police has gone in effecting arrest of Charles Bahati, who fled into hiding following the shooting of Julius Ssemwaka around State House Nakasero. 

Byakagaba kicked off his response by expressing regrets over the loss of lives claiming that as Police, the loss of life even for a single individual is regrettable, and that is why as Police, the institution can’t be the entity to foster the loss of lives.

The Inspector General of Police however declined to divulge details surrounding the six executions saying that just like the public, he has seen the recordings and people talking, but declined to come to any conclusion based on these saying the material evidence within the public confines isn’t enough for him to judge the situation and people involved.

On his part, Minister Kahinda kicked off his response by talking tough noting, that no circumstances should a Ugandan be executed or killed when he in handcuffs or unarmed.

Although Nambooze commended the Minister for coming clearly in condemnation of Police actions, she however wondered no action has been taken like carrying out arrests or opening a case file to probe circumstances leading to these execution, saying the commitments to getting an administrative report before any action is taken could be a delayed tactic for Police to play on the emotions of Ugandans.

Nambooze’s rebuttal led to an exchange with Minister Kajinda who fired back noting that they haven’t carried out arrests because two mistakes don’t make a right.