Ethiopian Review

Kampala — A SENIOR Police officer accused of hiring out his gun to criminals has been arrested. John Ssalongo Okwir, an assistant superintendent of Police based in Busia, eastern Uganda, was arrested during Police operations carried out in five districts after his accomplice confessed to the Police.

According to Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba, armed robberies rocked Busia and neighbouring areas three months ago.

“It emerged that Okwir often hired out his gun to criminals to terrorise residents and passengers,” Nabakooba said.

“On some missions, Okwir, hitherto the officer in charge of the local administration Police, reportedly accompanied the thieves.”

Nabakooba said Okwir’s accomplice, Isma Bwire, was arrested in Kampala on June 24.

Two days later, Bwire led detectives to Okwir, 54 and Lukeman Kayima and Karim Kizza Sityabudde, also suspected to be part of the group.

“Okwir has confessed to collaborating with the thugs,” Nabakooba told journalists yesterday at the Rapid Response Unit head office in Kireka, a Kampala suburb.

The Police recovered two guns and 55 bullets from Okwir, she added.

Okwir is the second Police officer to be arrested over robbery in one year.

The Police last year arrested Haruna Isabirye, a senior superintendent of Police, during a botched Mityana Road robbery.

Isabirye was handed over to the General Court Martial. Okwir will appear before the same court.

In another incident, two men were arrested for reportedly duping a businessman into giving them agricultural items worth over sh18m.

Two private security guards were also arrested over an alleged ploy to steal motorcycles in western Uganda.

- By Herbert Ssempogo | New Vision