Police have arrested three of their own and 11 other men over the demolition of St. Peter’s Church Ndeeba in Rubaga division, Kampala, contrary to the government directive stopping evictions during the lockdown.
Those arrested are; the DPC Katwe, SP David Epedu, OC Station Ndeeba Police Station, ASP Mugira Yeko Kato, and the Field Force Unit commander Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) South Region, ASP Isabirye Kaloli.
“They are being charged with neglect of duty. We want to warn the general public who are planning to evict people during this period of COVID19 that they risk being arrested and charged in courts of law if they go ahead with their intentions,” Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson said in a statement.
Onyango revealed that they are investigating circumstances under which St. Peter’s Church of Uganda, Ndeeba, was demolished this morning, disregarding government directives that stopped all evictions during this COVID-19 period.
Onyango said 11 other people who were found at the scene while demolishing the church were also apprehended.
“Katwe Police Station got information of the demolition at 01:00 hours and a team was dispatched to the scene.
Police were not informed about the eviction and demolition as the practice is.
The team found people demolishing the said church and arrested 11 suspects,” Onyango stated.
He identified the suspects as; Mohammad Kawooya, Minority Bbosa, Amza Kiberu, Abbasid Mutebi, Ali Bulega, Simon Matovu, Ali Kalika, Andrew Mujuzi, Barry Ssekito, John Isirinya and Bashir Maruti.
“They are currently detained at Katwe Police Station to help with investigations. The suspects are charged with malicious damage to properties,” said Onyango.
Police also impounded two motor vehicles that were recovered from the scene and these are; a white Toyota Canter registration number UAY 796N, which was loaded with metals, and a tractor/engineering plant excavator registration number UBG 682Q.
Onyango explained that they arrested the police officers because they were supposed to provide security to Church properties, but failed to do so