The Inspector General of Police, Martin Okoth Ochola, has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a boda-boda rider, Hussein Walugembe who set himself ablaze inside Masaka Central Police Station on Thursday.
It is alleged that the police officers at Masaka Central Police Station refused to release the deceased’s motorcycle after failing to offer them a bribe.
While addressing the media in Kampala, CP Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson, said that the police chief dispatched a team of officers to investigate the matter.
“The Inspector General of Police dispatched the task team to thoroughly investigate that incident of station suicide that happened at Masaka police station under which Walugembe, a 25-year-old causal worker and also night watchman committed suicide,” he said.
The investigation comes shortly after Walugembe decided to commit suicide after police allegedly refused to release his motorcycle, which he claimed had been wrongfully impounded.
Enanga also told reporters that the two police officers who were involved in the incident have been arrested on charges of extortion and negligence.
“So far these two police officers have been arrested and these two were the one exerting pressure on the victim to part with 40,000 bribe for the release of the motorcycle,” he said.
Enanga said that the deceased was also a cook at the police station on top of his job of riding a motorcycle.
“Walugembe Hussein was very well known in the police circles at Masaka. He was not only known for supplying food but also slashing grass around the compound at the station,” he said.
He noted that the death of Walugembe was due to stress caused by these officers, instead of helping him, nothing was done to stop the act.
“He also attempted to grab the acting traffic officer for them to die together but the officer escaped with minor injuries,” he said.
Enanga noted that Masaka police station will also be investigated over negligence and poor execution of police duties.
“The task force that was dispatched is also investigate the possible bleach of police duties at Masaka police station, acts of negligence, poor supervision, failure to follow police procedures failure to provide medical and life saving response to the victim,” he said.
He said that the force is putting measures to ensure that such an ugly act does not happen again.
“The inspector general of police instructed two directorates to conduct special gate keeping training for all police officers on the basics of organizing and responding to warning signs of suicide,” he said.