Two former police officers who were assigned to guard Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, during the recently concluded presidential elections, remain in police custody two weeks after being dismissed from the force by a disciplinary tribunal.
The detained officers have been identified as Joshua Kigenyi and Sula Sizomu. Their colleagues—Jeff Okadan, John Osike, and Emma Luzire—have since been released.
Nine out of the 16 officers deployed to guard Bobi Wine were arrested at the beginning of this month and charged with three counts: neglect of duty, scandalous conduct, and insubordination.
A police disciplinary tribunal under the Directorate of Counter-Terrorism dismissed five officers from the force after convicting them of neglect of duty and insubordination, while four others were exonerated but issued severe reprimands.
Police spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke and his deputy, SSP Diana Nandawula, have not publicly explained the reasons behind the arrests, charges, and dismissals. However, it has been established that the officers were accused of allowing Bobi Wine to leave his home without authorization. “Preliminary investigations by the Police Special Unit (PSU) indicate that Sizomu and Kigenyi were aware of Bobi Wine’s alleged escape plan but failed to alert their commander, Abangira.
They also did not inform the Kasangati District Police Commander or the Director of Counter-Terrorism, AIGP David Waswa Ssengendo. This is why the duo remains in custody even after dismissal from the force,” a Superintendent of Police said.Sources, however, indicate that both Kigenyi and Sizomu have denied any knowledge of how Bobi Wine left his home, which had been heavily guarded by police and military personnel following his vote on January 15. SCP Christine Nanding, Commandant of the PSU, said her role is limited to investigations, adding that inquiries beyond her mandate should be directed to police spokespersons. Notably, she also chairs the Police Appellate Court, where officers dissatisfied with disciplinary decisions can seek redress.Meanwhile, conflicting accounts have emerged regarding Bobi Wine’s departure from the country.
While he recently stated that he travelled abroad for engagements, Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba claims that he left Uganda on January 26 via the Gatuna border and later boarded a flight from Rwanda.
If Gen Muhoozi’s claims are accurate, Bobi Wine would have left Uganda 11 days after the election, in which he finished as runner-up with 24 percent of the vote, while President Museveni secured a seventh term.
Bobi Wine has dismissed Gen Muhoozi’s claims, questioning the credibility of his intelligence. He cited previous posts by the general on X (formerly Twitter), in which he suggested that security forces knew his whereabouts and even searched the homes of his associates.
The officers assigned to guard Bobi Wine were reportedly earning a daily allowance of Shillings 90,000, amounting to over Shillings 10.35 million in total. However, payments to those currently facing disciplinary action are said to have been halted on the orders of police leadership. URN