Police in Mbarara have indefinitely suspended four police officers for attacking and arresting a bride at her wedding reception.
The officers were charged with causing a public nuisance act, indiscipline offenses, and discreditable conduct, — offenses punishable with dismissal once convicted—, as the Police Professional Standards Unit investigates.
Sgt Richard Ngabirawo, DC Adio Caroline, DC Muganyizi Atugonza, and DC Ayesiga Morris all face dismissal from the police force upon conviction.
The bride, identified as Christine Natuhwere, was attacked by two plain-clothes-clad officers who stormed her wedding reception at Kakiika Technical School and caused chaos.
She was taken to the police station in Mbarara and detained on August 20.08.2022 at around 8 pm. The arrest left her disgraced before her groom, family, friends, guests, and in-laws.
The duo arrested the suspect on accusations of theft alleged by her former boss, Mirembe Henry who says Natuhwere stole a sum of 8 million shillings while working as a bank Agent at Centenary Bank at BNK building on July 06, 2022.
The matter was investigated and the case file submitted to the Resident State Attorney, Mbarara on July 18, 2022, who advised the parties to seek a civil remedy.
However, Mirembe continued to pursue the matter by petitioning the Regional Director of Public Prosecution to reopen the case file and charge Natuhwere with theft on August 18, 2022.
Fred Enanga, the Uganda Police Spokesperson says the officers acted with poor judgment when they arrested the suspect.
“Although it’s a duty of an officer, to arrest and produce suspects in court, over sanctioned criminal charges, in this very matter, their act was reprehensible and based on poor judgment.‘’ He says
Natuhwere has since been released and apologies extended to the groom, family, in-laws, friends, guests, and the church which wedded them.
