Already heavily criticized for sometimes operating as a militia of the ruling party, Uganda police over the weekend came face-to-face with a multi-billion narcotics racket involving top officers within its ranks.
Nine officers attached to its illegal drugs department, including the commissioner in charge of narcotics, Tinka Zerugaba, were confirmed to be under arrest as investigations into the scandal unfolded.
The police spokesman in charge of Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Directorate (CIID), Vincent Sekate, said the suspects were detained at the notorious Nalufenya police station in Jinja.
“Their file is still at CIID headquarters with the lead team investigator, Mark Odongo. I don’t know when they will appear in court since investigations are still on,” he said.
Nalufenya police station
Zerugaba was formerly head of intelligence, Aviation Police at Entebbe International Airport. Also arrested was SCP Lodovic Awita, the commandant of Very Important Persons Protection Unit (VIPPU). Awita was also a former commandant of Aviation police.
Others are Detective Superintendent of Police Mataric Emmoly Nataria, the former O/C CIID Entebbe Aviation police (about two years ago Nataria was suspended for misconduct), SP David Francis Owiny, VIPPU’s Michael Semuwemba, Sgt Julius Mwesigwa, Sgt Deogratious Muhebwa, Cpl Derrick Odiambo and PC Eriphase Karugaba.
They are being held on allegations of tampering with narcotics exhibits and theft of 85kg of narcotics drugs, with an estimated street value of Shs 13 billion, from police stores between 2011 and 2015.
Sekate said the officers were arrested by Flying Squad headed by Herbert Muhangi on Friday and taken to Nalufenya for safe custody. Flying Squad is a police unit authorised to combat serious crime.
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