The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Martins Okoth Ochola, has apologized to the Mbogo Clan head, Kayiira Gajuule, over last weeks incident when police officers fired tear-gas into a clan meeting.
In a message posted on social media, the Chief Political Commissar for Uganda Police, AIGP Asan Kasingye on Friday delivered the apology to Mr. Kayiira, on behalf of Ochola. Kasingye and his host met at the latter’s home in Mityana District.
“I have today led a delegation on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, to purposely meet the Head of the Mbogo Clan and deliver his apologies to him, his family and the wider Mbogo Clan fraternity, over the disruptions caused during the thanksgiving ceremony of the Clan at the clan headquarters in Mugulu village, in Singo” Kasingye posted on Friday.
He also noted that IGP Ochola carried out a thorough review and evaluation of the incident, and acknowledged the operational lapse which led to the use of teargas that spread and impacted on the congregation and the public. Ochola extended further apologies in addition to the earlier ones made, regarding the incident.
Ochola also applauded the head of the Mbogo Clan for his resilient and steadfast leadership during this disruptive incident by the territorial Police. He however requested all leaders (including cultural leaders) to always involve the Police in programmes for better coordination during this Covid19 pandemic in order to mitigate the risks of Covid-19 transmission among the entire public.
Ever since the incident happened, delegations from the police force have met and presented apologies to Buganda Kingdom, The Catholic Church and now the clan head.
In a statement released on Monday, the police Spokesperson CP Fred Enanga also apologized over the incident but said the gas was not intended to disrupt the clan meeting and blamed the wind which blew it towards the meeting.
Enanga explained that whereas police left the function to continue, politicians who came in with a swarm of supporters including boda-boda riders and efforts to block them fell on deaf ears prompting them to fire teargas to disperse them.