Police officer knocks senior colleague in freak accident

In flames. The Mercedes Benz that was being driven by Phillip Acaye burns in flames at the Ntinda II Junction in Nakawa Division, Kampala, on June 9, 2019. PHOTO BY STEPHEN OTAGE

What you need to know:

  • The motorcycle that Ogwang was riding got stuck on the vehicle, which dragged it on the bitumen surface until the friction sparked fire that consumed both the bike and vehicle.

Kampala. The police officer in-charge of Makerere University Police Station on Sunday morning had his vehicle reduced to ashes following a freak accident in which he reportedly knocked his Kololo Airstrip Police Post counterpart, Mr Bernard Ogwang.
Witnesses say Mr Phillip Acaye was driving a Mercedes Benz and hit Mr Ogwang, who was riding back home on his official motorcycle, at around 2am on Saturday night. The accident happened at the Spear Motors Junction in Nakawa, an eastern city suburb, on Jinja highway.
Detectives are investigating whether the errant officer was under the influence of alcohol by the time of the mishap.
The motorcycle that Ogwang was riding got stuck on the vehicle, which dragged it on the bitumen surface until the friction sparked fire that consumed both the bike and vehicle.

“[Makerere OC Acaye] was trying to escape mob justice by boda boda riders, who chased him…,” one witness said.
Mr Phillip Saita, a good samaritan, who helped extricate Mr Acaye from the flaming vehicle, said the police officer surprisingly punched him when he rescued him. He offered to rather die than live as he searched for his gun, Mr Saita said.
“I lost my phone. I believed he [was] an army officer because he was even asking for his gun,” he said.

Scene of accident
When our Reporter reached the scene where the vehicle caught fire at around 2:30am, the Silver Grey Mercedes Benz, which had fallen into Ntinda 11 Road side drain, just above Shell Ntinda, was smoldering.
A source who did not want to be named, said both officers sustained injuries after the collision.
The Kololo Police Post chief reportedly broke a limb and was admitted at Iran-Uganda Hospital in Naguru while Mr Acaye, who is said to have multiple injuries, was rushed to Mulago National Referral Hospital.
We were unable to access both officers at the health facilities or speak to them about the accident.

Police spokespersons also declined to comment. Mr Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson referred us to his immediate boss, Mr Patrick Onyango, who bounced us to Mr Owoyesigyire.
He on second attempt referred us to the police spokesperson Mr Fred Enanga, who said he knew nothing about the incident, and advised us to conduct his deputy Ms Polly Namaye, who was away attending the Heroes’ Day national celebrations event in Kasanje, Wakiso District.