Buyende, (UG): The Territorial Police in Busoga North Region and Buyende District have dismissed a Deputy Inspector of Police (D/IP) Balikowa Godfrey over scandalous behaviour and charged him with rape of a woman victim who had gone to report a case earlier this month.
Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga confirmed that Balikowa, the incharge CID at Namusita police post in Namusita Sub County allegedly raped the 30-year-old victim, a housewife and resident of Kalambo village, Ndolwe sub-county when she reportedly went to report a case of domestic violence against her husband identified Odere Ronald on October 12, 2023, at around 11 am.
According to Mr Enanga, when the woman approached D/IP Balikowa on the fateful day he assigned a team of 3 police officers to go and arrest her husband, but they did not find him at home which prompted the woman to seek asylum at the police until the husband is apprehended.
“The victim feared to return to her home until the husband was arrested,” Mr Enanga explained during a weekly press briefing on Monday, at police headquarters in Naguru.
However, later that day at around 6:30 pm, the officer is said to have asked the victim to be with him, since he had found a place for her to sleep.
“He instead drove her to his home in Nakabira police barracks, bought her food and drinks, and afterwards sexually assaulted her, on two occasions. In the morning, at around 9 am, he dropped the victim near Namusita police post and promised to arrest her husband,” Enanga explained.
“During the time, the victim’s husband Odere Ronald, was arrested, and a statement was recorded from him. The two parties were prevailed upon, and the husband paid for his wife’s treatment, whom she had assaulted. The victim reported her second case of rape at the regional police and the suspect was arrested,” he added.
Mr Enanga further cautioned the public, especially females to be vigilant and extra cautious when dealing with officers of the opposite, so that they don’t fall prey of the same behaviour.
“We wish to warn all female victims/suspects at police to be extra cautious when dealing with officers of the opposite sex. The victim was vulnerable, when he took her into his room, and conducted himself in a scandalous manner, by sexually assaulting her,” he warned.
Police reiterated that they strongly condemn such acts of abuse of authority by a few bad elements in the force and vowed to continue maintaining zero tolerance against acts of sexual violence against vulnerable women.
Meanwhile, the suspect who is currently still in police custody is set to be arraigned in court for Rape charges, according to Mr Enanga.
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