KAMPALA – The Deputy Director of the Police’s Special Investigations Division, Mr. Elly Owomanya, has been assigned to interrogate Uganda’s Ambassador to Burundi, Maj Gen Matayo Kyaligonza in connection with assaulting a female traffic police officer.
According to police spokesperson Fred Enanga, Maj Gen Kyaligonza was summoned by the police leadership through the Internal Affairs ministry to record a statement since Sgt Esther Namaganda claims that he slapped her twice during the confrontation at Seeta, Mukono District two weeks ago.
“Within today [Monday] and Friday, our investigative team will have obtained a statement from His Excellency, Maj Gen Matayo Kyaligonza. The police leadership and army leadership have organised to have Maj Gen Kyaligonza’s statement recorded in regard to assaulting our female traffic officer, Sgt. Esther Namaganda. Our deputy SID director, Mr. Elly Owomanya, is at the forefront to obtain this statement,” Mr. Enanga told journalists in Kampala on Monday.
Police said Gen Kyaligonza will be interrogated on three charges of obstructing a traffic officer on duty, assault, and violation of traffic laws.
He also revealed that Gen Kyaligonza’s bodyguards, Lance Corporal Peter Bushindiki and Private Okurut John Robert, have already been interrogated and will soon appear in court.
Sgt Namaganda was assaulted when she tried to stop vehicles that had wrongfully made a U-turn in the middle road at Seeta Junction. Two soldiers dressed in military police attire emanated from the car alongside Gen Kyaligonza and pounced on the police officer.
“Mr. Owomanya will also record a statement from Gen Kyaligonza’s driver. We have already recorded a statement from the journalist who was assaulted in the same incident. In total we have about three cases files in response to this incident,” Enanga said.
Sgt Namaganda, in a video clip that went viral, was manhandled by Maj Gen Kyaligonza alongside his two bodyguards from Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). Army spokesperson Brig Richard Karemire later issued statement hours, condemning the soldiers’ actions, adding that the culprits had already been arrested.
