Three bodies of last week protests not claimed

Police say they have arrested a man who was captured on camera hammering  a female police officer during protests that broke out in Kampala and other parts of Uganda following the arrest of presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine

What you need to know:

The protests erupted on Wednesday in several parts of the country after Mr Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine, the leader of the National Unity Platform, who is campaigning to become the president of Uganda, was arrested in Luuka District for allegedly violating COVID-19 standard operation procedures

Three bodies of people who were shot dead by police and UPDF soldiers during last week’s protests across the country have not been claimed.

According to Mr Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson, 42 bodies have been claimed.

“It is very unfortunate that the riots have so after claimed 45 lives, which included 39 male adults and six women, who[m] fall in the age bracket of 25-40, Mr Enanga said in a Monday tweet.

The protests erupted on Wednesday in several parts of the country after Mr Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine, the leader of the National Unity Platform, who is campaigning to become the president of Uganda, was arrested in Luuka District for allegedly violating COVID-19 standard operation procedures. 

Former Makerere University,  John Kittobbe  who spent his time on his farm in Sheema District and Kampala overseeing his real estate investments, was shot dead by a security operative.

He said that as part of the ongoing investigations into the violent political and criminal protests, task teams continue to track down perpetrators after the riots.

“All our territorial commanders intensified efforts to identify protesters and looters mid-last week, across all flashpoint areas, using the widespread CCTV technology (both public and private), license plate readers and facial recognition," he said.

Meanwhile, police have arrested Mr Emmanuel Ssimbwa Ssebuliba who is alleged to have hit ASP Consulate Kasule with a hammer during the riots in Kampala.

He was arrested at his home in Kirinya, Bweyogerere.

In a video recorded by a police officer which has since gone viral on Facebook, Ssebuliba is heard narrating how he hit the officer twice.
“I regret hitting her. I found her collecting some dry woods and timber which had been gathered and prepared to be lit during the protests. She tried to arrest me but I fought back by hitting her using the hammer,” he tells the officers who are heard interrogating him.
When asked where he got the hammer, Ssebuliba said he picked it near the New Taxi Park in Kampala.
“I threw the hammer in a trench after hitting her,” he said.

Mr Enanga said a total of 836 suspects were arrested, of whom 362 suspects were charged in court, including Mr Kyagulanyi, 330 were remanded, 32 released on court bail while 474 pending court today. FDC's Patrick Oboi Amuriat was released on bond," Mr Enanga added.