Five traffic officers arrested in Jinja over mysterious death of taxi driver
A police officer and relatives of Jimmy Nyanzi, a taxi driver who mysteriously drowned in R. Nile carry his body which was retrieved from the water where it was found floating on Thursday evening. Photo by Denis Edema
What you need to know:
- The post-mortem report conducted at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital indicated the driver died of drowning. He also has injuries on the head and chest.
- By the time of filing this story, samples of his body parts were taken to the government analytical laboratory for further investigations.
Jinja
Five police officers attached to Jinja police traffic department have been arrested over death of a taxi driver whose body was found floating on River Nile, Buwende village Mafubira Sub-county in Jinja District on Thursday.
Kiira Regional Police Spokesperson, Mr Samson Lubega identified the deceased as Jimmy Nyanzi in his early 30s and resident of Naminya village in Wakisi Sub-county in Buikwe District.
The suspects have not been identified due to security reasons. They will face the Professional Standards Unit of the police for disciplinary action when investigations are complete.
“It is true we have arrested this evening (Thursday) five traffic police officers attached to Jinja Police Station over death of taxi driver whose body was retrieved from River Nile. We have already started with our investigations,” said Mr Lubega.
Relatives and friends waiting at the shores to see the body of Jimmy Nyanzi, a taxi driver who is said to have drowned in River Nile. PHOTO BY DENIS EDEMA
Mr Lubega further refuted claims by residents that the traffic police officers on the road nowadays are incompetence and lacked knowledge of handling issues related to traffic rules and offences.
The Chairman of Jinja Taxi Operators and drivers Association, Mr Khalid Muyingo said on March 7, 2017 that taxi reg. No UAX 298N was stopped by traffic officers at Nalubale Bridge check point because the diver had excess passengers. He got out of the car and ran toward the River shores. The officers gave chase but moments later, the officer returned saying the driver had disappeared.
Police take over security of Jinja Regional Referral Hospital and block the angry relatives and taxi drivers from accessing the hospital after the body was taken there for post-mortem on Thursday. PHOTO BY DENIS EDEMA
“ They (traffic officers) are to blame over the death of the driver because they chased him towards a dangerous tight security area. They might have beaten him up before throwing him into the water,” said Mr Muyingo.
The chairman of Mbiko taxi stage Jinja Mr Aloysius Katerega said police impounded the taxi and parked it at the check point for a night. The missing driver’s colleagues were reportedly told that that he had been arrested and detained at Njeru police station yet it was not true.
The post-mortem report conducted at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital indicated the driver died of drowning. He also has injuries on the head and chest.
By the time of filing this story, samples of his body parts were taken to the government analytical laboratory for further investigations.
His body was handed over to relatives for burial.
