On President Yoweri Museveni’s orders, seven police officers including former Commandant of Police Special Operations, Nickson Agasirwe and Joel Aguma – the head of the Professional Standards Unit have been charged before the General Court Martial at Makindye with the Kidnap of two Rwandan nationals.
The officers were arrested last week and interrogated by military intelligence officers.
The other police officers in the dock are Abe Tumukunde the Police Flying Squad commander, Kampala Metropolitan, Deputy Assistant Inspector of Police Benon Atwebembeire, ASP James Magada who worked under Aguma on the Crime Intelligence desk, Amon Kwarisima and a one Faisal Katende.
These are jointly charged with two Rwandese nationals; Rene Rutangugira and Bahati Mugenga Pacifique.
Prosecution led by Maj. Rapheal Mugisha states that on the 25th/October 2013, while the accused were in unlawful possession of fire-arms and grenades, which are a preserve of the UPDF, they forcefuly repatriated Joel Mutabazi and Jackson Kaleemera to Rwanda.
The accused are have appeared before a seven member panel chaired by Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti. However their lawyer Caleb Alaka has objected to the charges and the jurisdiction of the General Court Martial.
Alaka argues that his clients cannot take plea on a defective charge sheet.
“Gen Gutti has now remanded the 3 senior police officers Aguma, Agasirwe and Magada to Makindye Millitary cells, and other 6 suspects have been remanded to Luzira prison.”
All the accused will re-appear before court on 20th Novemeber 2017.
How untouchables were busted
Born in Rwentuha, Sheema District, Nickson Agasiirwe Karuhanga’s rise to the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) cannot be explained well because he never went through the formal steps of becoming a certified police officer. He joined the force as a Special Police Constable (SPC).
He is the most notorious of all senior cops remanded by the Court Martial on charges of kidnap, murder and extortion.
Agasirwe, a former armed highway robber, bred more criminal officers when he joined the Police Flying Squad unit. He was a senior member of Kayihura’s inner circle. This was after he was arrested by Colonel Kayanja’s Operation Wembley that operated in the early 2000s before being disbanded and replaced by the Violent Crime Crack Unit.
It is said that after being arrested, Agasiirwe cooperated well with the operatives before giving them vital information about other robber cells not long before he was turned into an informer.
Now, the director of Chieftaincy for Military Intelligence [CMI], Col Abel Kanduho, has ordered the arrest of all Nixon’s accomplices for prosectuon. The dozens of rogue police officers are currently on the run.
They are: Muhamood Matovu who served as Nickson’s driver and manages Nickson’s garage in Bwaise.
Isa Sseruyingo, a driver of Police Professional Standards Unit boss Joel Aguma. He participated in the kidnapping of Lt Joel Mutabazi, a former bodyguard of Rwanda President Paul Kagame.
Alex Katungi, formerly worked with Nickson and Fred Tumuhirwe in the forceful repatriation of refugees, according to police detective Ali Kabanda.
Wilson Atekateka was involved in many operations commanded by Nickson. Abel Kitagenda was accused by Kabanda of torturing Kamwenge Mayor Geoffrey Byamukama and Andrew Kaweesi murder suspects to force them implicate Security minister Gen Henry Tumukunde.
Julius Kasinguzi was Nickson’s driver. Solomon Nuwaha was involved in many operations led by Nickson. Ronnie Byenkya and Fred Mutabazi participated in kidnapping a South Sudanese in Kampala on the country’s first Independence Day.
Asp Fred Tumuhirwe commanded the operation in which Kamwenge Mayor was tortured.
