An enforcement officer who was filmed pepper-spraying journalists as they covered the arrest of pre-medical interns who attempted to march to Parliament over delayed commencement of medical internship has been suspended from the Force, police said Wednesday.
Cpl Ogwal Yeeko was on Tuesday filmed pepper spraying journalist, Isano Francis and Thomas Kitimbo, after police were deployed to disperse a group of pre-medical interns who had planned to march to Parliament over delayed commencement of medical internship for the year 2023/2024.
They also wanted MPs to look into issues of medical interns’ welfare.
“The abuse directed at journalists and reporters for simply doing their job, can never be justified.
The officer who acted unprofessionally has been identified as CPL Ogwal Yeeko. Although the officer issued an apology to the journalists, he has still been suspended and handed over to the Professional Standards Unit, for investigations,” said police spokesperson SCP Fred Enanga.
Mr Enanga asked the said journalists to record their statements about the 9:30am incident at Mulago Guest House Wandegeya, with PSU to allow charges to be brought against the Cpl Ogwal.
“We have also reached out to the journalists and expressed deep regrets over the conduct of our officers,” Mr Enanga added in a statement.
He said ASP Kamulya Sowali, the OC Field Force Unit Kira division, AIP Ogwang John Steven, the OC operations Wandegeya and PC Laker Harriet have also been summoned by the Professional Standards Unit and are undergoing investigations for their failings during their enforcement operations.
