By Spy Uganda
The Uganda Police are investigating circumstances under which one of their own in Kamwenge District crashed a private vehicle belonging to a suspect he allegedly arrested for not wearing a face mask, on Saturday.
It should be noted that President Yoweri Museveni a few days ago directed all Ugandans to wear face masks when driving or appearing in public places, as a way of fighting the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
He also directed the policemen to arrest anyone, whether pedestrian or driver who is found not wearing a mask, as long as they are in public places. The law was also passed recently to effect the same.
So we have been informed that on the fateful day, a police officer attached to Kamwenge Police Station was rushed to Mbarara hospital in critical condition after getting involved in a nasty accident.
The Rwenzori West Police Spokesperson, Vincent Twesigye, said their officer identified as PC No. 63940 Samuel Omala, 32, while on duty along Kamwenge-Ibanda highway on Saturday, arrested a yet to be identified driver for not wearing a mask and impounded his vehicle, a Toyota Wish registration number UBG 899E.
However, under unclear circumstances, the officer allegedly ordered the car owner to surrender the car keys and the officer started the vehicle, claiming he was driving it to Kamwenge Police Station as an exhibit.
It is said that unfortunately, along the way, the Policeman lost control and the vehicle overturned several times, fatally crashing him in the wreckage.
“In the course of the accident, our officer’s right leg broke and also sustained other injuries after the steering hit him in the chest,” said Twesigye.
He added that; “The said officer allegedly drove the suspect’s vehicle without clear orders to do so. Perhaps it was not a COVID-19 operation.”
Police further revealed that the alleged motor vehicle owner was also in the vehicle but survived with no injuries.
They were rescued by Good Samaritans to rushed to the scene shortly after the accident and pulled them out of the wreckage.
However, by the time of filing this story, the police spokesperson Patrick Onyango was yet to issue an official statement about the matter, although we have since learnt that investigations into the same are still ongoing.
