KAMPALA – Police have revealed that the man who set himself on fire at Masaka Central Police was not a boda boda rider “as alleged in the media.”
In a statement dated July 3, Police Spokesperson CP Fred Enanga noted that the victim identified as Hussein Walugembe a 25 year old was a casual worker and night watchman. He said that Walugembe set himself ablaze after several failed attempts to reclaim his motorcycles, Bajaj Boxer, red in colour, reg. no. UDL 591R after two days.
“Preliminary facts indicate that the motorcycle was impounded on June 6,2020, by Sgt Ewalu Julius, after it was found parked at a petrol station that was undergoing construction, where the victim (now deceased), worked as a local night guard,” reads an excerpt.
He further revealed that e victim had recently acquired the motorcycle a period of one week, and it was being ridden by a friend called Kaweesi Twaha of Masaka City, since he never knew how to ride.
“He was, therefore, not a boda boda rider as alleged in the media. On July 1, 2020, he went to Masaka Police Station to reclaim his motorcycle, and returned on July 2, 2020 but all in vain,” said Enanga.
Enanga noted that the IGP has dispatched a task team jointly headed by Director Operations, AIGP Edward Ochom, and the Director Traffic and Road Safety, to thoroughly investigate the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident.
