10 police officers charged over Nagirinya murder

Killed. Maria Nagirinya

What you need to know:

  • The Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and police have so far arrested six prime suspects who have been charged in courts of law.
  • Five days ago, URN reported how Police Director for Legal, Erasmus Twaruhukwa had submitted the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to decide on whether the arrested police officers were to be charged in criminal or disciplinary courts.

At least 10 police officers arrested in connection to the kidnap and murder of social worker, Maria Nagirinya and her driver have been charged before Uganda Police Force’s Disciplinary Court.
After Nagirinya’s kidnap on August 28, President Museveni ordered for the arrest of the police officers who did not act after being alerted by relatives about it.
As a result, Police’s Professional Standards Unit (PSU) arrested three Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) and seven Police Constables (PCs).

Mr Museveni’s order came after Nagirinya’s father, Francis Lubowa and her uncle Dr Ben Mukwaya blamed detectives for being complacent when they informed them of how their daughter had been kidnapped alongside her part time driver, Ronald Kitayimbwa.

READ:

Nagirinya murder: Museveni orders dismissal of Nateete CCTV operators

"You are not only supposed to retrieve pictures that happened some hours ago. You are supposed to watch live and tell the patrol vehicles to act promptly," Mr Museveni said


Nagirinya and Kitayimbwa were kidnapped outside her home gate in Lungujja, Rubaga Division, in Kampala at around 11.40pm. Relatives rushed to Katwe, Natete and Old Kampala police stations where the officers took their time to act until the victim’s Spacio vehicle number UBA 570V was no longer visible on Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras.

Police Court Chairperson, Dennis Odongpiny, hesitantly confirmed to this reporter that the officers had been charged and would return tomorrow (Wednesday).
“They appeared yesterday (Monday) and they will return tomorrow [Wednesday],” Mr Odongpiny said on Tuesday.

He referred this reporter to Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga for details. But the Police spokesperson has not responded to our inquiries.

Five days ago, URN reported how Police Director for Legal, Erasmus Twaruhukwa had submitted the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to decide on whether the arrested police officers were to be charged in criminal or disciplinary courts.

READ:

Suspected sponsor of Nagirinya murder held

Police said the suspects told police during interrogation that the arrested man is the one who paid them to kill Nagirinya and her driver


The DPP advised the police force to have the accused officers tried at disciplinary level where they could receive lenient sentences upon conviction.
If found guilty at police court, they can be given severe reprimand, demoted, suspended or part of their salary withheld for a specified period.

Nagirinya was a project manager at Community Integrated Development Initiative (CIDI).
The Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and police have so far arrested six prime suspects who have been charged in courts of law.