KAMPALA – Alex Katungi, Number 60574 Police Constable, attached to the Environmental Protection Police has petitioned the Inspector General of Government (IGG) , Hon Betty Kamya accusing her Deputy Mrs. Anne Muhairwe accusing her of Abuse of Power, Conflict, Torture and Degradation.
In his letter dated 22nd January 2025, Katungi through his lawyers of Mwesigwa Rukutana and Company Advocates contends that on 19th January carried participated in an operation which established a site belonging to Muhairwe engaging in Environmental Degradation activities, but the she instead turned against the law enforcers.
“Deputy inspector General of Government, who admitted to owning the land. Our client found that Mrs. Ann Muhairwe was back filing a wetland contrary to the relevant Laws of Uganda and Presidential Directives against environmental degradation.” Reads part of the letter
That as the inspection was ongoing, a one Asiimwe Ronald who appeared to be the site manager made a phone call to Ann Muhairwe , who arrived at the scene at around 0.300 hours and started verbally insulting/threatening and intimidating Katungi.
“She immediately ordered our client to leave the site and never to step there again. She intimated that she only fears the President, the First Lady and General Caleb Akandwanaho alias Salim Saleh.”
That on top of that, Muhairwe kept on abusing Katungi, until he left and reported the matter to his supervisor , Commissioner of Police Enock Abaine who advised him to report the matter to Kajjansi Police station where a case file number SD 65/20/01/25 was opened against Ann Muhairwe.
“The following day, Monday, 20th January 2025, Ann Muhairwe personally: contacted our client via telephone on her Number 0772 534 783 inviting him to her office. Upon reaching. He found a group of persons who had previously been arrested and convicted of environment related offences. It is alleged that the said persons, who miraculously appeared after our client had opened a case against Ann Muhairwe, had allegedly complained that our client had assaulted them.”
That after , Muhairwe then forced Katungi to kneel down in the presence of former convicts and ordered him to pay what she termed damages to a one Ronald Asiimwe (who is son to Ann Muhairwe) who was managing the dumping.
“Our client was forced to pay a sum of UGX. 3,000,000/= (Uganda Shillings three Million Only) to the said Ann Muhairwe’s son and was thereafter set free. He was also further made to kneel, raise his hands and forced to apologize to her said son- Ronald Asiimwe while she was recording him, and threatened to share the recording in social media.”
That after , Muhairwe ordered the Police officer client to stop investigations and withdraw the case opened against her at Kajjansi Police Station, or else be “prosecuted” and terminated from Uganda Police Force.
The lawyers have further noted that , the actions of the Deputy Inspector General of Government are shameful!, abuse power and an act borne out of impunity which erodes public confidence in the Institution of the Inspectorate of Government.
“The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to appeal to your esteemed office to reign upon Mrs. Ann Muhairwe to cease and desist of further harassment and framing the police officer with dubious charges.”
The letter signed by Mwesigwa Rukutana has been copied to Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Mrs. Anne Muhairwe, Executive Director NEMA, Inspector General of Police and Commandant Environmental Police.
