The chief bodyguard to the Prime Minister of Uganda, Sgt Ivan Akampulira, has been detained at Kikuube police station in Kikuube District for trying to execute an illicit arrest in the area.
Akampulira was arrested on Saturday after he went to apprehend Alex Mugisha, a resident of Nyamigisa village in Kyangwali sub-county, Kikuube district purportedly on the orders of Jane Kabiibi resident of the same area reportedly claiming that he defaulted on a Shs21m-debt that she lent him in 2016.
However, Mugisha denies he owes money to Kabiibi suspecting malice since the duo has for long been embroiled in a land wrangle in Nyamigisa village.
Mugisha narrated to Kazi-njema News that Akampulira went to arrest him in company of four people clad in plain clothes allegedly including Kabiibi’s son whose identity was not established by publication time. He said the assailants were armed with an AK-47 rifle and a pistol.
Mugisha added that Akampulira and his cohort arrived at his home at around 2pm aboard a Premio vehicle registration number UAS 403 R. But on seeing the strangers, Akampulira entered his house where the police officer followed him and tried to handcuff him.
However, a scuffle ensued and Mugisha sounded an alarm that attracted some neighbours. His wife, Alowis Mutilize, wrestled the gunman down before her husband took off with it.
In the process, Mugisha was injured with a gun bayonet. Nevertheless, he overpowered the gunman and ran away with the gun that he hid in the nearby bush. To recover it, Akampulira used the pistol to fire live rounds of ammunition into the air but all in vain.
This prompted him to rush to Wairagaza police post to report how he had been disarmed by a civilian. However, while at the police post Akampulira failed to produce matching orders as by law required resulting into his arrest. His other accomplices fled in the vehicle.
Akampulira was later yesterday transferred to Kikuube police station for further legal management.
One of the eyewitnesses and resident of the same area, Khamis Nduga, said Mugisha told him that his assailants sent him death threats; giving him an ultimatum of only 10 days to live. No sooner had he received the message, than he saw the vehicle arrive with four occupants.
Mr Nduga said that on seeing people gather, Kabiibi’s son ordered Sgt Akampulira not to allow anybody near, thus, brandished the gun to keep them away. However, Mugisha ended up grabbing the gun.
Mr Amlan Tumusiime, the Kikuube Resident District Commissioner cum head of security in the district, said that he received the information yesterday (Sunday) morning adding that Akampulira was in Kikuube police cells by publication time.
Mr Tumusiime said reports indicate that this is not the first time Akampulira has been to Nyamigisa intimidating Mugisha, urging the residents to keep peace.
The Kikuube District Police Commander (DPC), Irene Acheng, said though Akampulira is a police officer, he misused his office adding that police do official movements following matching orders from police officers of the districts where arrests are to be effected.
The DPC told this online news portal that she contacted Sgt Akampulira’s bosses and denied knowledge of his presence in Kikuube.
Ms Acheng urges the people of Nyamigisa to cooperate with police while investigating the matter.
