Four Police officers in West Nile region have been demoted after the police disciplinary court sitting in Arua found them guilty of neglect of duty.
The officers were accused of failing to protect and secure the President’s movement route on the 13th of August 2018 when one of his vehicles was allegedly stoned by opposition supporters during the Arua Municipality Parliamentary by-election campaigns.
Although the officers had pleaded for leniency on grounds that they are youthful, have huge family responsibilities of paying school fees, and being first offenders, the court did not consider their pleas.
The demoted officers include former zonal field force unit commander Robert Junena, who was demoted from Superintendent to Assistant Superintendent of police, former regional crime intelligence officer Edward Mugweri, who was lowered from Senior Superintendent of Police to Superintendent of Police, former regional police commander for West Nile Jonathan Musinguzi, and former Arua district police commander Abbas Senyonjo.
SP Herbert Wanyoto was given a severe reprimand in accordance to section 44, code 28, rule 1(I) of the police Act cap 303 for failing to protect Mr. Francis Zaake from escaping from lawful custody from Arua regional referral hospital where he was admitted.
But IP Francis Onen was pardoned by the court as court proved him innocent in the act against the attack on the Presidential motorcade.
The sentence was read out by Chairman of the police disciplinary court, Commissioner of Police (CP) Denis Ogwang Odongpiny on Tuesday morning at Arua municipal council hall.
However, the defaulters have been given a chance to appeal if they are not satisfied with the verdict within 14 days from the day the ruling.
“You (the defaulters) can still regain the ranks once you work hard. You can appeal to the Police Council appellant court within 14 days if not satisfied with the judgment,” Mr Denis Odongpiny said.
The demotion, according to court, is in accordance with the Police Act Cap 303.
One of the cars on President Yoweri Museveni’s convoy was allegedly stoned by a rowdy group of people along Ediofe road in Arua municipality when he came to campaign for National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, Ms. Nusra Tiperu in the Arua Municipality Member of Parliament by- elections to replace slain Ibrahim Abiriga.
