HOIMA – The Hoima Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Mr Richard Tabaro, is in the spotlight after he was captured on video fighting, slapping and whipping a woman during the district woman MP by-election.
In the video, Mr Tabaro is seen fighting with Ms Elizabeth Katungi in Kigorobya County during the monitoring of the by-election on Thursday, September 26. The woman is also seen attempting to fight back using fists and kicks. The video clip that was shot by the Opposition’s campaign team, shows Mr Tabaro involved in verbal exchange and later physical fight with the woman as an armed UPDF soldier tries to restrain them.
Ms Katungi, we have learnt, is a sister of the joint opposition candidate in the by-election, Ms Asinansi Nyakato.
“We have video footage of Mr Tabaro beating up Ms Katungi with a stick when she asked him to refrain from engaging in election irregularities,” Ms Nyakato said in an interview at the weekend.
She claims that Mr Tabaro, guarded by UPDF soldiers was protecting a group of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters that were intimidating voters and moving with pre-ticked ballot papers to various polling stations.
However, Mr Tabaro denied any wrongdoing and insisted that he was only defending himself.
“I found them beating up Mr Mulindambura. I convinced them not to be violent and they gave me their two sticks which I put in my car. They initially cooperated and obliged to my request of them not being violent,” Mr Tabaro explained.
He added: “I told them that what they were doing was bad. I actually told her that young girl, I am your father’s age. I am requesting you to humble yourself and handover the sticks. I then told them if they cannot accept to go to Police and stop fighting, I would order for their arrest which I did.”
Ms Katungi and an unknown number of her colleagues were later arrested, accused of assaulting Mr Tabaro and Mr Mulindambura, causing them bodily harm.
