By Patrick Jaramogi
Kampala, Uganda: All is not over for Uganda’s envoy to Burundi, Maj. General Matayo Kyaligonza. Kyaligonza, an NRA Historical, NRM Vice Chairman Western Uganda and member of the High Command is back in the news after he witnessed his guards clobber a traffic police officer.
Spy Uganda has established that top UPDF generals are irked by his behaviours and want him this time round punished.
A number of Generals we talked to who preferred anonymity described the incident as ‘very shaming’, and especially of an envoy. “We feel bad to be associated, as force with behaviours of such officers. I think he should be aligned,” said a top UPDF General.
The traffic police officer, identified as Sgt.Esther Namaganda recorded a statement alleging that Kyaligonza slapped her on her left ear as his guards held her hands firmly.
“He asked me who are you?, I told him am a sergeant. He then came forward and tried to remove my peep, when I resisted, that’s when he moved forward and slapped me,” narrated Namaganda.
The two guards who were seen in a video clip and photos that went viral have since been arrested and are now being detained at Makindye Military Barracks.
The two have been identified as L/CPL Peter Bushindiki (RA/221607)and Pte John Robert Okurut (RA/230927).
Similarly, even if the accused officers have been apprehended, the Police who are so irritated by the incident have opened a case file of threatening violence and assault against Maj Gen Matayo Kyaligonza, and his bodyguards for allegedly roughing up a female traffic police sergeant on duty. The traffic officer, Sgt Esther Namaganda’s ‘mistake’ was to stop the UPDF officer vehicle after they made a U turn opposite the Tusker supermarket in Seta.
This is not the first time rtd. Maj. General Kyaligonza is involved in such controversies, in 1989 he was demoted after slapping ASP Tumusiime, the then OC Station Jinja Road.
In the 2001 general elections, he beat up the then news editor of Radio Hoima, Amlan Tumusiime, for airing a story he said did not favour him.
Last year he was again involved in brawl with neighbours after he tried to construct a channel in front of their houses. He ended up beating the neighbours.
The UPDF spokesperson, Brig Richard Karemire, apologised for the incident and said the army was working with the police in the investigations.
In August last year, UPDF soldiers guarding the home of Maj Gen Matayo Kyaligonza, reportedly beat a resident to death in Mutungo Ward, Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipality in Wakiso District.
The soldiers then dumped Rogers Waiswa’s body at Mutungo Police Post after they beat him into coma following a disagreement at a construction site belonging to Maj Gen Kyaligonza.
Kyaligonza and those involved in the murder are yet to be charged over these deaths or brawls committed over time
