DPC Kirumira arrested

An operative of the FSU breaks one of the doors of ASP Kirumira's house before he was arrested on February 2, 2018. PHOTO BY JOSEPH KATO

Police have arrested Buyende District Police Commander (DPC) Muhammad Kirumira.
Operatives of the Flying Squad Unit (FSU) on Thursday broke one of the doors of ASP Kiruma's house in Bulenga, Wakiso District before arresting him.

Kirumira had locked himself inside the house in an attempt to evade arrest.

Mr Kirumira was last Tuesday arraigned before police tribunal at Police Headquarters in Naguru and charged with torture, extortion, corruption, bribery, unlawful arrests and excessive use of authority.
He denied the charges and asked police prosecutor, SSP Katherine Kusemererwa, why he was being charged with offences he allegedly committed five years ago. Ms Kusemererwa informed him that offences committed by an officer can only be forgotten after 12 years.
"You said you don't want me and I have decided to quit police. What do you want from me?," Mr Kirumira asked the officers who had gone to pick him from his home.

“Police sent Kifeesi goons to arrest me but I will not accept until the Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, does it in a formal way. IGP should act professionally,” he added.
Mr Kirumira also faces charges of neglect of duty contrary of Section 44(1) Code 19, corruption practices contrary to Section 44(1) Code 23(a) and discreditable or irregular conduct contrary to Section 44(1) Code 12 of the Police Act.

Reacting to his resignation threats, police said Kirumira had contravened the code of conduct of any serving police officer.
The police spokesperson Emilian Kayima in a statement released Wednesday evening said the police officer's actions are scandalous and cannot be tolerated in the force.
"When the full wrath of the law weighs on you, it will be you alone to tell the story and you will need no sympathy," Mr Kayima warned Mr Kirumira in the statement.

The Police Act provides guidelines for an officer to resign which include writing to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Internal Affairs, which request is discussed and cleared in the Police Authority chaired by the Minister of Internal Affairs.
Mr Kayima said instead of following the laid down procedures, Mr Kirumira has contravened the code of conduct of any serving police officer.
"He has even gone ahead to grant interviews to some media houses which is an act of indiscipline and totally contravenes the code of conduct of serving police officers," Mr Kayima added.