{At least 10 police officers attached to the Field Force Police (FFU) in Mpigi District have been suspended over alleged torture, assault and stealing from the community.}
The suspended officials had been deployed at Bunjakko Island in Buwama Sub-county to guard forest reserves against encroachment. They are accused of stealing bananas, cassava, chicken and coffee from residents in the area.
The suspension follows a meeting held on Monday at Kyagalanyi playground in Bunjakko Island during which residents brought the matter to the attention of their leaders.
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The meeting was attended by the Katonga regional police commander, Mr Victor Saasi Kule, the Zonal FFU Commander, Mr Titus Byaruhanga, Mpigi District police commander Ahmed Kimera Sseguya and other district officials.
“We deployed our men to protect forests in the this area and keep law, order and stability as negotiations between land lords and tenants continue, but if we get such bad reports from residents, we cannot leave these undisciplined policemen here,” said Mr Kule amid jubilations from residents.
“We are withdrawing them from this area and they will be investigated over these allegations,” he added.
According to Mr Paddy Muwonge, the chairperson Kasawo-Namala village, more than 210 residents were tortured by policemen who have been attacking their homes especially at night. He said some of the victims are still nursing wounds at various health units, while others were forced to relocate to other places.
Mr Swaibu Waggwa, the Resident District Commissioner, said: “Suspension should not only be effected to these 10 policemen. There are other senior police officers in the district who should either be suspended or transferred for various reasons,” Mr Waggwa said.
Two years ago, police on the request of Buganda Prince David Mawanda Namugala, a landlord, created a police post in the area to block residents from encroaching on his three square mile private forest. Police have since sealed off all pathways leading into the forest but some residents who own gardens inside the forest sometimes sneak in which causes clashes between them and security personnel.
Bunjako Island has been a hotbed of land wrangles for nearly a decade. The wrangles are fueled by refugees who come from as far as Kisoro, Bundibugyo, Rwanda and Burundi looking for free land for settlement and farming.
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Claims of torture. According to Mr Paddy Muwonge, the chairperson Kasawo-Namala village, more than 210 residents were tortured by policemen who attack their homes, especially at night. He said many are still nursing wounds.
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