Besigye tormentor Agero has history of violence

The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Rashid Agero, who was captured on video and pictures using a gun to crash the windscreen of the vehicle in which Opposition leader, Dr Kizza Besigye, was being driven on Monday has a history of violence against political leaders and other protests.

Many social media commentators described the actions of SSP Agero, the commander of Field Force Unit in Kampala Metropolitan Police, as brutal.

He was seen smashing Dr Besigye’s car windscreen before he signalled his juniors to pull down the crashed windscreen, spray pepper onto Dr Besigye who was later subdued and arrested and taken to Nagalama Police Station until late in the night when he was released.
SSP Agero replaced Senior Superintendent of Police Sam Omala who also had earned a reputation of being an Opposition tormentor in 2015.

He is not new to such incidents of police brutality.
During the build-up to 2006 General Election, Mr Agero, then an Assistant Inspector of Police and the officer-in-charge of operations at Kampala Central Police Station, doused John Ssebaana Kizito (now deceased), the then Democratic Party leader and other party members with coloured water and tear gas using water cannons mounted on armoured anti-riot trucks.

He squared off with late Ssebaana, who was protesting on Kampala Road, and aimed a pistol at him. The image made rounds in media and the act was condemned by all political activists regardless of their parties.

The DP members were walking to Christ the King Church to meet leaders of other parties to discuss the proposal to field one presidential candidate in the election.
Mr Agero later remained in Kampala extra region (now part of Kampala Metropolitan police) and led the eviction of traders in Shauriyako Market before it was reconstructed.

In July 2007, Mr Goddy Muhumuza, who was then Makerere University legal adviser, accused police officers, including Rashid Agero, of kidnapping him and taking him to Butabika hospital on pretence that he had a mental problem. Mr Muhumuza later said the officers had connived with his relatives to stop him from testifying in a court in western Uganda where he had filed an assault case.

Mr Agero later kept a low profile as he was moved to areas that police anticipated riots around the country.
In 2011, after promotion to Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr Agero was appointed Lyantonde District Police Commander.

In May 2012, he was again in the news when he had a fist-fight with Lyantonde District chairperson Fred Muhangi at the district main police station.
Mr Muhangi had gone to the police station to complain about the detention of his supporter, Mr Paul Luzula, beyond 48 hours. Mr Muhangi engaged Mr Agero with a verbal exchange, which later turned into a fistfight. Mr Muhangi fled but Mr Agero opened a case of assault against him. He was later promoted to the rank of Superintendent of Police.

Replacing Omala
On April 17, 2015, he was appointed Commander of the Field Force Unit (FFU) in Kampala Metropolitan Region replacing Mr Omala, who was then Senior Superintendent of Police. Mr Omala had also earned notoriety for blocking Opposition protests.

In February 2016, Mr Agero was promoted to Senior Superintendent of Police.
On December 26, 2018, he led a team of police officers who violently dispersed Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, and his fans who were following him to attend his music concert at his One Love Beach in Busabala.

Bobi Wine was arrested and taken to his home in Magere, Kasangati and put under house confinement.
In July, as 300 FFU officers were being passed out at Mandela National Stadium, Mr Agero said they had acquired techniques they didn’t have before, which he said they [passed officers] would apply on protesters in Kampala Metropolitan area.

On July 17, Mr Agero violently dispersed Pastor Joseph Kabuleta’s supporters who had gone to seek his release at the police Special Investigations Division in Kireka, a Kampala suburb.

Besigye vows to pursue his tormentors

Dr Kizza Besigye has said he and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) will pursue police officers who tormented him and other party members until they are prosecuted.

While addressing a press conference at his Katonga Road office in Kampala yesterday, Dr Besigye said they are documenting evidence of all the violence committed against the party members and will ensure all the perpetrators pay for their crimes.
He said while going to Namboole stadium to attend the FDC meeting on Monday, his car was vandalised by the police.

“The front was hit by two things, one the stones organised by police by a gentleman we know who is always following me called Muhumuza. He was organising the stone throwers and we monitored him. The windshield was eventually broken by the muzzle of the gun by a senior superintendent of police named Rashid Agero.

Fortunately, we inside the car were taking videos. We shall pursue them, no doubt,” Dr Besigye said.
FDC secretary for mobilisation Ingrid Turinawe said the party had assembled a team to deal with all cases of those still in detention.

“The arrests were very brutal. Our people have pain and are injured. We are already helping them and making sure they get their bonds,” Ms Turinawe said.
She said at least 63 party members, including nine women, two of who were pregnant, were arrested.

The aborted meeting
Mr Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the party spokesperson and Kira Municipality MP, said all had been planned until police started sabotaging their meeting. Mr Ssemujju said he wrote to the IGP on October 14, notifying him of the seminar.

However, Mr Ssemujju said, sensing mischief on Thursday October 31, he called Mr Mario Obiga Kania, the Minister of State for Internal Affairs, and explained to him the challenges he had encountered with police. “In total, 60 FDC members from Kawempe, Kira and Nakawa got arrested,” he added.

Mr Patrick Amuriat, the FDC president said the police action will not deter them from continuing with their activities. “What we need to know is that every space for the Opposition has not been granted by the junta. We are not going to give up on the fight,” he said.
Police, however, countered that FDC defied a directive to shift the meeting inside the stadium.

Mr Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, also denied the allegations of detaining male and female suspects in same cell.
“That cannot happen. We are trained and we know what to do. At Kira Division, there are female and male facilities which are enough,” he said.

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