Policeman sues Gen Kayihura over denial to participate in politics

Deputy Assistant Inspector of Police Nelson Mungasa has dragged Gen Kayihura to the Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala, demanding compensation from his former boss for “deliberately depriving him a chance to actively participate in the 2016 general election.”

Former Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura will have to pay damages to a police officer who  claims to have sought the rightful channels toward a political office but saw his dream blocked.

Deputy Assistant Inspector of Police Nelson Mungasa, in suit number 304 of 2018, has dragged Gen Kayihura to the Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala, demanding compensation from his former boss for “deliberately depriving him a chance to actively participate in the 2016 general election.”

Mungasa, who is currently the officer-in-charge of criminal investigations at Bugolobi Police Station, says Gen Kayihura refused to consider his application to resign from the Force so that he could vie for the Tingeyi County MP position in Kapchorwa District in 2016.

Mungasa in his suit, contends that he wrote to the then IGP through his then immediate supervisor at Jinja Road Police Station in Kampala, seeking to resign from the force in July 2016.

He accuses the former IGP of usurping the powers of the Police Council when he solely rejected his application.

Gen Kayihura was, i February, dropped from leadership of Uganda Police Force after 13 years in charge. President Museveni replaced Kayihura with career police officer and his former deputy Okoth-Ochola.

He has largely led a quiet life since his sacking for, among others according to the commander-in-chief, infiltrating the force with ‘bean weevils’ (criminals who were tarnishing the image of the force from the inside).

As IGP, officers like Mungasa would have found it impossible to seek legal redress against their superiors who was as powerful as Kayihura, but with the general brought down to earth, some of the officers can speak out their minds.

Mungasa has not wasted time on his part.

Mungasa adds that he took the matter to the line ministry (of Internal Affairs), who wrote to Kayihura asking him to re-consider his decision but the former police chief stood his ground and instead accused Mungasa of committing an offense by participating in politics before officially resigning from the police.

Kayihura then wrote to the NRM party electoral commission chairperson Tanga Odoi, stating that Mungasa had offended several sections of the police Act and that the resignation letter was just a cover up of his offences.

Mungasa asked that the High Court condemn his former boss’ conduct and declare that his action was unlawful and aimed at depriving him (Mungasa) of his constitutional right to participate in the governance of his country.

He is also seeking damages from Kayihura for both financial loss and psychological torture that he claims to have suffered.