KAMPALA – The Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has withdrawn criminal charges against three policemen accused of conniving with businessman Abid Alam to evict residents of Kasanda District from their land.
Peter Baitera Muhanuza, Daniel Robert Ogellan and Wilson Azale were arrested in April on the orders of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit for allegedly shielding the Alam who is also accused of violently evicting residents in a land dispute.
But when the accused persons appeared before Grade One Magistrate, Ms Ketty Joan Acaa for mentioning of their case on Monday, State Attorney Janat Kitimbo submitted the DPP letter, saying the proceedings against them have been discontinued.
“This is to inform court that the DPP has decided to discontinue proceedings against Mr Muhanuza, Mr Ogellan and Mr Azale,” reads part of the DPP letter tendered before the Magistrates Court at Buganda Road.
However, Kitimbo said investigations will continue against Mr Alam and former Wamala Regional Police boss in Kasanda Police Station Wilber Osteen Wanyama.
Court ordered Mr Alam and Mr Wanyama to return to court on July 8 2020 as investigations into their case continue.
Prosecution contends that Mr Wanyama being police officer on April 8, 2020 between Mityana Regional Police Office and Ntinda in the Kampala District conspired with Mr Alam to defeat the course of justice by unlawfully releasing confidential information in police File Case reference No. Kassanda CRB 234/ 2020 to Alam who was a suspect.
The charges stem from atrocities committed by a group of people attached to the businessman.
The group was accused of gang raping a woman before they destroyed banana plantations, robbed property and battered residents of Bukoba and Bukompe villages, among others.
