IGP Ochola Condemns Manner in Which Lugogo Woman was Arrested

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Okoth Ochola has condemned the manner in which a woman was arrested on Tuesday at Forest Mall in Lugogo Kampala that led people at the scene to suspect she was being kidnapped.

Chaos broke out at Forest Mall in Lugogo on Tuesday afternoon after an unidentified woman who was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser Reg No UAW 268V was suddenly grabbed by unidentified plain clothed men who tried to push her into a vehicle.

The frightened woman however screamed for help under suspicion that the men were kidnappers, which prompted people at the mall to run to her rescue.

But later, it was discovered that the men were police officers.

The Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, ASP Luke Owoyesigyire told NTV in an interview; “There was a situation that was misunderstood in which a woman claimed people were attempting to kidnap her. The people contacted Police which then responded quickly and got to the scene”.

“We have since learnt that the people that were attempting to take her were our police officers, over her associate who is wanted by Police,” Owoyesigyire said.

According to Luke Owoyesigyire, the officers had expected the wanted person to show up only for her to send her friend which resulted into the confusion.

It is not clear what exactly the person in question was wanted for but people who were on the scene said that the woman was being accused of being a fraudster.

He however said that Police was going to investigate the manner in which the woman was arrested which onlookers said was unlawful. The incident happened at a time when cases of kidnap, mainly targeting women are on the rise across the country.

Now, IGP Ochola has criticized the manner in which Tuesday’s arrested was effected. He had been asked by journalists to respond to the suspicious and arbitrary manner in which the said woman had been arrested.

“A professional security officer is taught in training school how to effect an arrest,” Ochola told the press during a press conference at the Police headquarters on Wednesday.

“First of all, you are supposed to identify yourself, secondly, you must inform that person that you are under arrest for A, B, C, D,” he added.

“Now, where arrests are effected in a manner that you mentioned, please help us and apprehend them. You arrest for us those people,” Ochola told journalists.

He said that yesterday’s arrest was not in order adding that “I wish I would know what operation it was so I can follow it up”.