Lwakataka sues IGP, wants his pistol returned

Kampala.

Rally driver Ponsiano Lwakataka has run to court, seeking its orders to compel police to return his pistol.
In the law suit he filed on May 18 before the High Court in Kampala, Mr Lwakataka argues that he has been the holder of a fire arm CZ 75 9 MM No. AKO50 since 2001 and that without hearing his side, last year, the Inspector General of Police caused its confiscation.
“I never misused the firearm in one way or the other for the period I have been holding it,” he states in his suit.
He continues: “I am a prominent businessman and a professional rally driver and to my dismay, the suit firearm was removed from me by the respondent (Police and Inspector General of Police) without hearing my side, justification and I was paying tax.”

Investigations
He further avers that during the police investigations in which he was accused of being behind the murder of a family of nine in Rakai District after a hole was drilled through their house by unknown assailants, it was established that he never misused his pistol and that it was exhibited on arrest.
In December 2016, Masaka High Court acquitted him of murder charges after the key state witness, Mr Asuman Muddu, backtracked on his evidence, saying a certain police officer had coached him to implicate Lwakataka, a move that weakened the case.
Through his lawyers of Sanywa, Wabwwire and Co Advocates, Lwakataka wants court to direct the police and the IGP to return it immediately.
The Ugandan law on firearms states: “The chief licensing officer may in his or her discretion suspend or revoke a firearm certificate without assigning any reason for the suspension or revocation.”