The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has summoned the Minister of Internal Affairs, Gen Jeje Odongo to present a report to parliament regarding investigations about police officers who assaulted Ruparelia Group, Managing Director, Rajiv Ruparelia last week.
The matter was brought to the floor of parliament during yesterday’s plenary sitting by Kasilo County Member of Parliament Elijah Okupa who tasked the minister of Internal Affairs to explain how the police force has foregone with investigations into the matter that saw police officers allegedly assault Mr Rajiv and his dog handler on Friday last week.
Mr Okupa said there was need for Gen Odongo who was not in attendance of the plenary sitting to apprehend the suspects since the incident was captured on CCTV.
“Last week we heard about the people who wanted to kidnap Mr Rajiv Ruparelia when he was walking but was only saved by his dogs. We have been waiting for the Minister of Internal Affairs to tell us who those people are because in the videos we saw they were dressed in police uniform,” Mr Okupa said.
Kadaga tasked the Minister to appear before the House and provide response on the matter raised on the floor of Parliament.
“I ask the Minister of Internal Affairs to come here and give an update on the issue of the people who attacked Mr Rajiv,” Kadaga directed.
Last Friday, police came under spotlight after Mr Rajiv, son of business Mogul Sudhir Ruparelia, accused members of anti-terrorism police of assaulting him near his home in kololo while he was taking a morning walk with his dogs.
Reckless driving
Rajiv narrated that the policemen who were travelling in a police van at a terrific speed nearly ran over him and said after asking them why they were over speeding; they violently attacked him and his dog handler who was later hospitalised.
Letters to My Younger Self: Humphrey Asiimwe—"Ambition Without Purpose Leads Nowhere"Through his Facebook account, Rajiv also said that the attack by policemen was accompanied with racial slurs.
“I stopped to tell them that it was not safe for anybody to ride that fast in a residential neighbourhood. I and my dogs were walking and I asked why an individual can drive that recklessly in a residential neighbourhood. I requested in a simple way but an officer angrily responded to me that this is not India, this is Uganda. This was a racial attack, “Mr Rajiv wrote on Facebook.
Rajiv also a rally driver said that the yet-to-be identified police officer was driving in a private vehicle and did not know the occupants were vehicle officers
‘’He went on and asked me why I should ask him to slow down. I did not know there were other several office in the car, they got out and started beating me up. In the process of beating me, I was no longer able to hold my dogs. If someone is beating you, how do you control your dogs. I released them and they started running,” Rajiv said
Few hours after the incident, police said the policemen were trying to defend themselves after Rajiv had reportedly set dogs to attack them following a heated argument and promised to would give a detailed report about the alleged assault on Mr Rajiv but five days now, the police hasn’t come out with a detailed report.
‘’Police at Kira Road Police Station is investigating the issues that happened between Rajiv Rupaleria and our officers from counter terrorism attached to Bank of Uganda that were heading to guard the Deputy Governor’s office, investigations are going on and we shall get to the depth of the matter’’ said Owoyesigyire, Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said that as policemen listened to Mr Rajiv, he set his dogs to attack them adding that Rajiv was free to report to police and file the assault case.
‘“The preliminary information we have is two-sided and we can’t make conclusions. I can’t deny that our officers abused him nor can I deny that the officers were acting in self defence. We will conclude when we interview the two parties,” Mr Owoyesigyire said.
