By Micheal Atwakiire
Sheema
The Kagango Grade One Magistrates court on Friday granted bail to three Kigarama people’s SACCO staff, who were arrested for allegedly torturing a customer who had a loan of Shs3.2M in their SACCO.
Charles Karuhanga,32, from Nyakambu village, Masheruka Town council is alleged to have been beaten by Kigarama Peoples SACCO staff on April 28, 2019 inside the SACCO offices in Nyakambu trading centre, where he had gone to plead with them to give him more time in order for him to service his loan.
The accused include; Tashobya Innocent the Loans officer, Boroba Aliphonse the branch manager and Muhwezi Simon the security guard.
Karuhanga said that “I had gone there to ask them to give me a grace period of one day to pay my loan interest of Shs250,000 which I pay monthly. But that the officers didn’t agree.”
He said they insulted him and his family, which resulted into a bitter exchange of words and they ended up beating him like a thief.
“When I entered the offices, I found there the branch manager Boroba Aliphonse and loans officer Tashobya Innocent. When I told them about the matter, they started abusing me and insulting my family. They called in the Askari who started beating me. When I decided to defend myself, the other two officers also came and joined hands in beating me.” Karuhanga said.
He added that during the struggle, they broke his tooth and shattered his eardrum, plus piercing his left hand with a knife.
He added that “I went into the nearest clinic in Nyakambu and later I was admitted to Mayanja Memorial Hospital Mbarara, where I have been getting treatment from. I don’t want their money because money can’t bring back my eardrum or the broken tooth. I want the laws to discipline them accordingly.”
We tried talking to some of Kigarama people’s SACCO about the matter but they all refused to talk to us. They instead ran away from our cameras and entered their cars.
Patrick Bamuhiga, the Grade One Magistrate granted them non cash bail of Shs1m until August 30th, 2019 when they will again appear in court for hearing of their case. He however asked them to sit with Karuhanga for peace talks such that they can solve their problems amicably.
