Senior police officer arrested over extortion in Kiryandongo

KIRYANDONGO, UGANDA: Police in Kiryandongo district are holding a police crime intelligence officer attached to Bweyale police post in Kiryandongo on allegations of extortion of money from criminal suspects.

The suspect identified as Ayangi Jimmy is currently in detention at Kiryandongo Central Police Station after he was nabbed on Wednesday evening with extorted money worth shs300,000 from the mother of one suspect in custody identified as Kisembo opting to sort out his case outside police.

Kisembo’s mother told police that the officer approached her privately and told her to pull out 400,000/= in order to sort out her case which is still pending in the police.

According to Kiryandongo District Police Commander (DPC), Mr Edison Muhangi, Ayangi’s arrest came after the police received numerous complaints from community members of Bweyale over his actions.

Mr Muhangi said the suspect will be arraigned before the court on charges of extortion and liaising with thieves and robbers to cause destruction within the area.

“We shall continue arresting police officers who are working with thieves and robbers to cause destruction and they will be taken to the court of law,” said Muhangi.

He remarked that they are still hunting for more police officers over the same since it’s not their first time hearing such a case.

The DPC appealed to the public to be vigilant over extortion in that in case any police officer asked for money in order to sort out the case, they should report immediately.

A source close to the suspect who spoke on condition of anonymity said Ayangi had made it a habit to extort money from thieves, bodaboda within Bweyale and it was not her first time to do such incident.

Ayangi’s arrest comes at a time when joint security operations are recking the terrorists in Kiryandongo district, especially in the area of Bweyale town council, Mutunda Sub-county, Karuma town council and Kigumba Town council.