Mr Alex Mwine-Mukono led the operation to raid the Mbogo clan ceremony in Mityana. Photo/ Courtesy.
At the beginning of this week, top officials from the Uganda Police Force visited the clergy, clan chiefs from Mbogo clan, and the Katikkiro of Buganda Kingdom seeking forgiveness for the actions of a group of police officers in Mityana District.
The police officers had disrupted a thanksgiving ceremony by the clan at Muggulu in Mityana District last Saturday.
The police operation that was overseen by Mr Alex Mwine-Mukono, the Mityana District police commander (DPC), resulted in the congregants being teargassed.
This is not the first time Mr. Mwine-Mukono has found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reason.
On July 5, 2014, a group of more than 150 people, armed with machetes, spears, axes, bows and arrows, and guns, attacked Bundibugyo Police Station where Mr Mwine-Mukono was DPC at the time.
The group were angered by the installation of Rtd. Maj Martin Kamya as the cultural leader of Obudingiya Bwa Bwamba (Bwamba Cultural Institution) on May 30, 2014.
Two police officers, Wilson Bataka Mugume, who was the officer-in-charge, and Police Constable Swaibu Aliga were killed in the attack.
Some residents and security operatives in the town came out to say they had warned Mr. Mwine-Mukono about the impending attack.
In 2015, he was arrested and arraigned before court, charged with neglect of duty.
Asked about what became of the court case, the police spokesperson, Mr Fred Enanga said: “How can I just know as a one-off? It needs to go back into the records. You cannot just call now and expect me to pronounce an answer. How can I confirm that he was the same DPC? I need to find out from PSU (Professional Service Unit of the police).”
Mr Mwine-Mukono later resurfaced as the DPC of Mityana District.
A police source who requested to remain anonymous said Mr Mwine-Mukono has had the support of highly placed officers in the police leadership.
While in Mityana, Mr Mwine-Mukono has been surrounded by some controversy.
During the Covid-19 lockdown, Mr. Francis Zaake, the Mityana Municipality legislator, accused Mr. Mwine-Mukono and other police officers of assault when they arrested him at his home on charges of violating presidential directives on distributing relief food.
The legislator has since sued Mr. Mwine-Mukono and other police officers for torture, unlawful detention and disobedience of lawful orders.
