By Simon K. Turibamwe
As Uganda’s armed forces jammed the media condemning Rtd. Gen. Matayo Kyaligonza for assaulting traffic officer, the outspoken media commentator Tamale Mirundi has praised the action saying it was necessary. Mirundi while on Top radio’s Akwatibwako program hosted by Dunstan Busuulwa, Mirundi had to say that the traffic officer didn’t sense that the person she was giving orders was above her on top of being guarded by military escorts. According to Mirundi, for a person to be guarded by military escorts means that he is a high profile target for enemies and has a right of way on highways which the traffic police didn’t know. He also noted that Kyaligonza decided to make a U-turn on the high way after he got information that there was an accident ahead, of which the intelligence had had perceived was intended to trap him, and the traffic officer could not observe it to give way for the General. When asked whether roughing up and buttering a uniformed officer on duty was the only option, Mirundi had this to say that buttering was the only option, because police officers don’t respect Generals and have no sense of observation. “This was the only option, the man was escaping danger detected ahead but the officer of police only wiggles in his face with orders not turn,” said Mirundi. On February 24th, 2019 Rtd. Maj. Gen. Matayo Kyaligonza who is the NRM vice chairperson for western Uganda assaulted a woman police officer in Seeta for restraining him from making a U-turn on the high way. Videos of Afande Kyaligonza’s escorts buttering the police officer are viral on social media, which has attracted condemnations from armed forces and human rights activists. However, the UPDF spokesperson Brig. Richard Karemire responding to calls to prosecute Gen. Kyaligonza, said that the army will only prosecute his body guards because it’s hard for the UPDF to try a retired officer in its court martial. Karemera explained that: “Much as the UPDF is touched by his conduct, we still find it hard to try a retired army officer in the army court but other courts can take responsibility to try him.” For comments, call or text 0752510225.
