Wandegeya DPC Under Criticism for Assaulting NUP Supporters

Superintendent of Police (SP) Hassan Hiwumbire, the Wandegeya Division Police Commander, is facing criticism after a video surfaced showing him assaulting National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters.

Video footage from Monday shows Hiwumbire punching Henry Mutyaba before striking his head with a stick, leaving him bleeding profusely.

The images have sparked outrage and drawn comparisons to a 2015 incident in which Joram Mwesigye, then the Old Kampala Police Division Commander, brutally attacked a journalist, leaving him permanently disabled.

Mwesigye was later convicted of torture and expelled from the Uganda Police Force.

His former colleagues reportedly refused to help him raise the 100 million Ugandan shillings required to compensate the journalist as per a court order.

Senior police officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, believe Hiwumbire may face a similar fate if legal action is taken against him.

“I trained with SP Mwesigye, and we often warned him about his actions, but he never listened,” said one police commissioner.

After Mwesigye’s conviction, he added, pleaded with us for help raising UGX60 million, but they distanced themselves from his fracas.

“I predict that even Hiwumbire will end up like him,” he said.

Bobi Wine

NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, has vowed that Hiwumbire will face justice for his actions.

“The monster in him was on full display as he clobbered our supporters to near death,” Bobi Wine said.

One of his victims, Henry Mutyaba, is in critical condition after being hit on the head with sticks.

Some police officers, concerned about the increasing violence in the Kawempe North MP by-election, have reportedly begun leaking information to human rights lawyers.

“These officers forget that their actions have long-lasting consequences,” said another senior officer.

Violence By-Election

The Kawempe North by-election has been marked by violent clashes between security forces and opposition supporters since the nomination process began.

Security agencies, including the Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce (JAT), Special Forces Command (SFC), Field Force Unit (FFU), and Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), have been deployed in the area, where rubber bullets and batons have been used against civilians.

Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, the Army spokesperson, defended the security presence, saying it was necessary to maintain order.

“The situation in Kawempe is not normal. NUP has defied guidelines intended for a peaceful electoral process by blocking main roads and disrupting traffic,” he said.

Meanwhile, Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke advised those with complaints to seek redress through the courts or police leadership.

Pattern of Police Violence

Hiwumbire’s actions follow a long history of police brutality during Uganda’s elections. Many officers who have engaged in such conduct have seen their careers falter.

For example, Arinaitwe Gilbert Bwana, infamous for smashing Dr. Kizza Besigye’s car in 2011, is now facing multiple legal cases.

Former Assistant Commissioner of Police Sam Omara, known for his heavy-handed tactics against opposition figures, recently apologized for his actions from his sickbed.

Only a few, like Enock Abaine, who was promoted despite violence against journalists in Lwengo, have managed to rise through the ranks.

With mounting pressure and legal threats looming, Hiwumbire may soon find himself following in the footsteps of his predecessors.
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