Speaker Kadaga Petitions Internal Affairs Minister Over Rajiv Ruparelia's Alleged Police Assault

The Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga has summoned the Internal Affairs Minister Gen. Jeje Odongo to present a report to the House concerning investigations about police officers who allegedly assaulted Businessman Rajiv Ruparelia, the Managing Director of Ruparelia Group.

Rajiv Ruparelia, the son to property mogul Sudhir Ruparelia last Friday accused members of the anti-terrorism police of assaulting him near his home in Kololo, a Kampala suburb.

During Wednesday afternoon plenary sitting, Mr Ruparelia’s matter was brought to the attention of the House by Kasilo County MP Elijah Okupa who said there was need for the Minister of Internal Affairs to brief the country on what action the police force had taken against officers who allegedly attacked the businessman.

“Last week we heard about the people who wanted to kidnap Mr Rajiv Ruparelia when he was walking but was only saved by his dogs. We have been waiting for the Minister of Internal Affairs to tell us who those people because in the videos we saw they were dressed in police uniform,” Mr Okupa said.

Mr Okupa said the incident was captured on CCTV cameras and therefore should be easy for police to apprehend the suspects.

Gen Odongo and his Junior Minister, Mr Mario Obiga Kania were not in the House to give instant response to the matter raised on the floor.

The Speaker said the country needs an update about the people who attacked the businessman who is also a Motor Rally Driver in the broad day light.
“I ask the Minister of Internal Affairs to come here and give an update on the issue of the people who attacked Mr Rajiv,” Ms Kadaga ruled without giving a specific date.

Last week, Mr Ruparelia said that when he was walking his dogs in the neighbourhood, he stopped a speeding vehicle to inquire why the driver was acting reckless. He said it turned out that the people traveling in the van were policemen.

He said that he told them it was unsafe for them to drive at such a speed in a residential area but they reportedly responded by telling him that they were speeding in Uganda not in India. He said that several policemen jumped out of the car and assaulted him.

“An officer angrily said to me that this is not India. This is Uganda. Immediately when the dogs realised that I was being beaten by the officers they tried to save me. This was a racial attack,” Mr Ruparelia said.
Mr Ruparelia’s family which has interests in insurance, real estate, the hospitality industry, education, among other businesses are Ugandans of Indian descent.

The dog handler, according to Mr Ruparelia, was also assaulted before he was admitted to hospital.

In a stament, police said the law enforcers were defending themselves against Mr Ruparelia who had reportedly set his dogs to attack them after a heated verbal exchange.