By Simon Turibamwe
For failing to give protection to a one Nagudi (a house wife in the Bwaise neighborhood), IGP Okoth Ochola has come under severe criticism by the residents of Kyebando in Nansana Municipality who say there is growing evidence that the days of Kawukumi are back to take charge of the Uganda Police Force. The area residents are appalled by the fact that despite giving Police very useful whistleblower information leading to the arrest of hardcore robbers and criminals (including her husband Isma Semwogerere), the top leadership has still refused to give any protection to this young lady for the very severe risk she took. As a result of the tip-off information Nagudi offered, Police and army were able on Tuesday to arrest a group of hardcore criminals who were led by 26-year-old Gideon Mbirire and her own husband Isma Semwogerere. The residents say that much as the criminals she reported have since been apprehended by the military, there are fears that their other accomplices are still out at large and might bump off Nagudi in revenge. Indeed, it was Nagudi’s well corroborated information that enabled police and UPDF to harvest the hardcore criminals like grasshoppers because they were not able to put any resistance.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trouble for the thugs started on the night of Monday when Isma Semwogerere woke up in the middle of the night and started beating his wife Nagudi accusing her of barrenness and refusing to produce a child for him. He beat her so hard and even her on gun point threatening to put her out of action. He was apparently intoxicated and this was the first time was realizing that her husband was keeping a gun in their house. Nagudi, who was always curious as to why her husband was keeping something under the bed while warning her never to look there, got so terrified and reported the matter initially to the police of Kibe zone in Bwaise. Because there is a lot of Kawukumi at that police, Nagudi wasn’t helped and this prompted to report the same to the police of Kabawo zone in the Bwaise neighborhood. When the Kabawo police didn’t act fast enough, Nagudi reported the matter to the military police personnel who have lately been very many patrolling the Bwaise area. It was then that the military started hunting for Semwogerere who upon interrogation revealed the source of the gun he has been using to kill so many people and rob them as well. He specifically reported that Gideon Mbirire, a police officer (No. 63516) attached to Kabulengwa-Kyebando in Nansana Municipality, is the one who for many years has been leasing his police gun to him. He confessed that each time he successfully robs and kills his victims he shares the loot by half with his master and protector Gideon Mbirire who has also been working with other police officers to ensure maximum protection for the robbing squad. Upon arresting Mbirire, the military went to the two thugs’ homes which were searched and in the end many killer weapons including blood-stained hammers were recovered as exhibits. In the estimation of the area residents, Nagudi provided very useful information and deserves both a reward and protection from the Uganda Police Force. Semwogerere has since given the military a lot of information including that concerning a young man who roasts chicken on the roadside who he confesses was killed during a robbery mission that was undertaken jointly by him and police officer Gideon Mbirire. He confesses that they robbed Shs600,000 from the chicken roaster and shared it half-half. He has also narrated to the military about a police motorcycle which the two have often been using to facilitate their robbery missions in the different places in the Nansana Municipality. To make sure Semwogerere’s evidence is consistent and accurate, the military even organized an identification parade where Semwogerere was able to correctly identify and single out Mbirire from a large group of policemen. In a related development the Kabulengwa Police O/C Ms Sauya Nassolo will also have some questions to answer as to why Gideon Mbirire was being allowed to daily go home with his gun yet this a practice the President and IGP Ochola prohibited long time ago. For comments, call or text us on 0752510225.
