Maj Gen Matayo Kyaligonza has attacked Members of Parliament (MPs) for criticizing him after he assaulted a female traffic police officer, saying ‘they are not worthy to represent people nor to judge him since they also behaved like children when they jumped over chairs in Parliament and broke microphones.’
Addressing journalists in Kampala on Monday, Maj Gen Matayo Kyaligonza, who together with his Military Police guards are accused of assaulting a traffic police officer, accused Parliament of passing judgment on him without hearing his side of the story.
“That decision by Parliament is such as a stupid one. It is even unfair because imagine they jumped on tables, broke microns and fought each other but no one recalled them,” Maj Gen Kyaligonza said.
“I was there; I saw what happened; before they finally said that I be recalled, did they ask me for the truth? They are saying that I be recalled; are they the ones who put me there? Only one committee approved me and they have for the last many years proved that I am the viable candidate for this job,” he said.
“I am waiting to hear from this traffic woman who claims that I and my bodyguards assaulted her. Because her actions were not of a professional traffic officer,” he added.
On February 24, a video clip went viral showing Gen Kyaligonza, together with his two bodyguards from Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF), RA/221607 L/CPL Bushindiki Peter and RA/230927 Peter Okurut John Robert assaulting Sergeant Esther Namaganda for stopping them from making a U-turn in the middle of the road in Seeta.
The video clip attracted a lot of criticism from all corners of the nation including Parliament and police.
The Military police was forced to arrest two bodyguards while Gen Kyaligonza was summoned by police to record a statement.
In Parliament, a motion was moved to recall him from his diplomatic role as Uganda’s ambassador to Burundi.
On why he assaulted Sgt Namaganda, Kyaligonza said that her conduct was contrary to that of a well-trained traffic officer.
