Kibuule seeks talks with security guard

KAMPALA. The State minister for Water, Mr Ronald Kibuule, has sent emissaries to a female security guard who is accusing him of assaulting her, to settle the case out of the criminal justice system as pressure mounts on him to resign.

Mr Kibuule is accused by Ms Hellen Obuku, a private security guard, of assaulting her when she asked him to be subjected to a routine security check at Stanbic Bank Mukono branch two weeks ago. Mr Kibuule reportedly ordered police officers to arrest her on a libel offence after the assault, an allegation he denies.

A source close to Mr Kibuule told Daily Monitor that Mr Kibuule made telephone calls to Ms Obuku seeking to resolve the matter amicably.

The source said Mr Kibuule had sought negotiations because he believes that the case is political in nature and that it is being pushed by his rivals who he defeated in the recent parliamentary elections.

Efforts to talk to Mr Kibuule about the negotiations with Ms Obuku were futile. Mr Kibuule said he could not talk to us since he was boarding a plane to travel abroad.
But relatives of Ms Obuku confirmed Mr Kibuule contacting them, but they were unwilling to divulge details.

Mr Kibuule is expected to meet Ms Obuku when he returns to the country soon.
On Monday, women rights activists under the Uganda Women Network demanded Mr Kibuule’s resignation from public office. National Organisation of Trade Union also petitioned Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda to take action against Mr Kibuule.

Stanbic Bank that had earlier disassociated itself from the guard, sent a team to Ms Obuku and apologised to her before promising an investigation into the matter.

Since last Wednesday when Ms Obuku registered an assault case, Mukono police officers have been dragging their feet to summon and record a statement from Mr Kibuule.

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman Emilian Kayima said Ms Obuku’s complaint will be “fully investigated”.

“Whether the statements have been recorded isn’t the issue now. Why should we investigate case files through the media? Let us allow our officers to do their work without undue pressure,” he said.
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