Boda Boda Cyclists Demand for Tranfer of Masaka Police Chiefs
Boda boda cyclists in Masaka are demanding for the immediate transfer of the District Police Commander (DPC), Bosco Bakashaba and officer in-charge of Nyendo police station, Denis Kanakulya whom they accuse of using their offices to extort money from the public.
The demand comes a few days after a boda boda rider identified as Hussein Walugembe set himself on a fire inside the traffic office at Masaka Central Police Station after failing to convince the officer in-charge of Traffic, Ibrahim SSesanga to release his motorcycle that was impounded during the curfew.
Local leaders and cyclists alike look at the incident is a pointer to a bigger problem of poor policing and brutality on the part of the police against the locals.
Henry Mayanja, the chairperson Katwe boda boda stage accused Bakashaba and Kanakulya of turning their offices into chambers for extorting money from suspects.
The allegations were made during a security meeting which was convened by Masaka Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Herman Ssentongo.
Job Ntege, the Secretary Nyendo-Ssenyange division boda Boda association also accused the officers of being arrogant which blocked all channels of civil negotiations with the community.
The cyclists were backed up by MPs Florence Namayanja (Bukoto East) and Mathias Mpuuga (Masaka Municipality) who argued besides the Thursday incident of self-immolation, some officers are also known for demanding sexual favors from women seeking services from the offices.
Mpuuga, challenged the Inspector General Police (IGP) Martin Okoth-Ochola to expedite investigations into the conduct of the implicated officers, saying his failure to reign over the irregularities may compel citizens to revenge against the officers.
The demands came a day after Ochola dispatched a team of senior police officers to Masaka to investigate circumstances under, which Walugembe torched himself at the police station.
Muhammad Nsubuga, the Greater Masaka Region Police Spokesperson, says that the team has already started work. He asked all aggrieved parties to show up and file their complaints in confidence to guide police authorities on their next course of action.
