Four police officers filmed dragging elderly woman in mud

Police said on Thursday that four of their officers had been detained after they were filmed dragging an elderly woman in the mud following her arrest on charges of trespass in Mbarara City, Western Uganda.

The woman identified as Victoria Kabatoraine is seen being dragged to a waiting Toyota Harrier, UBE 907U, by the police officers who had been deployed to arrest her on charges of trespassing on a land she reportedly holds letters of administration.
The arrest happened amid an ongoing legal dispute which started about 15 years ago, according to Kabatoraine’s daughter who recorded the video.

The suspected officers are; ASP Andrew Betunga (in uniform), Detective Constable Darious Aharizira, Detective Constable Hope Nsasirwe and Detective Constable Loyce Kiboneka.
Kabatoraine’s daughter who filmed her arrest is heard in the video urging officers not to manhandle her elderly mother.
“Afande Betunga, is this how you arrest my mother1 The mother of the nation?” she’s heard saying.
Police later issued a statement condemning the manner of the arrest and said the errant officers has been detained at Mbarara Central Police Station.

“Uganda Police Force condemns the method of arrest depicted in this video. It contradicts our professional standards. ….These officers were executing an arrest of the female seen dragged in the mud. She is resident from Lubiri cell in Mbarara City. All the four have since been arrested and are currently detained in Mbarara. Further updates regarding the progress of our disciplinary action will be provided later,” reads part of the statement posted on police’s X handle.

The Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Mr Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi also condemned the "outrageous, horrific" arrest of the elderly woman, saying the officers "deserve severe consequences."

"This is betrayal of our Mzee’s legacy by officers . Outraged by the horrific treatment of a grandmother by some of our officers. These actions are unacceptable and deserve severe consequences. I urge our Security leaders to take decisive action against these unprofessional and indisciplined officers. Impunity and disrespect have no place in our country," he posted on his X handle. 

The regional police spokesperson, Mr Samson Kasasira, said they are still investigating circumstances under which the woman was arrested.

“We have taken action following the video that is going viral on social media where police officers are seen dragging a 65-year-old lady. The four police officers have been arrested and are now in police detention as they wait to appear in a disciplinary court that handles police cases,”  Mr Kasasira said .

He added, “It’s clear that they have been having a land matter and are in court and the cause of the arrest is what we are yet to establish. Let me find out and release a statement."

The incident comes amid growing concerns of human rights abuse by security forces. 
Police have over the years topped human rights violations lists, according to reporters from the government's Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) annual reports.