Residents of Butaleja District have raised a massive outcry, petitioning various offices across the country to intervene in what they describe as rampant extortion by the district police, allegedly led by District Police Commander (DPC) SP Jennifer Ayesiga Nyangoma.

The residents have appealed to district and Bukedi regional authorities, accusing the police of orchestrating false arrests and fueling conflicts within the district, particularly in relation to taxi operations, to extract bribes from opposing parties.

The public uproar intensified after residents of Bugolola A village in Budumba Sub County sought police protection against an attack by Bugolola B village. The conflict stemmed from allegations that a family in Bugolola B had been stealing cattle and selling them in Tororo.

However, the DPC allegedly remained unresponsive, advising the complainants to avoid taking the law into their own hands. Tragically, violence erupted, resulting in the killing of a child and the burning down of multiple homes.

In response, on January 5, 2025, police officers under the command of Sergeant Etiang conducted mass arrests, detaining over 15 individuals from Budumba, Busabi, and Busolwe sub-counties.

Among those arrested was the Chairman LC I of Bugolola A village, who had initially reported the incident. Shockingly, families of the detainees claim that the DPC personally instructed that no one should be released without her approval.

Detainees were reportedly held for over five days, after which Sergeant Etiang allegedly began demanding UGX 500,000 per person for their release. This sparked outrage, prompting residents to petition various offices, including the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), the Regional Police Commander (RPC), and the Uganda Human Rights Commission, to intervene, asserting that the arrested individuals were innocent.

According to LC III Chairperson Mr. Patrick Guloba, “Some of the people arrested, like Mzee Ndinya, are 85 years old and physically incapable of attacking a village. Arresting LC I Chairman Mr. Nogo Abubaker—who had gone to report the incident before it even happened—and then demanding UGX 500,000 for his release is cruel and unbecoming of the police.”

Public Meeting Escalates Anger Over Police Corruption

In response to the growing public outcry, the RDC’s office in Butaleja District convened a meeting on February 5 at Chola Trading Centre in Busabi Sub County. A massive crowd attended, as many families had already sold their few remaining animals to afford the alleged bribes. Notably, the DPC did not attend the meeting, reportedly fearing public backlash.

When questioned about whether bond is supposed to be free, the Officer in Charge (OC) of Budumba Police Post, who represented the DPC, confirmed that police bond is indeed free.

This statement infuriated Ms. Perudasi Namwane, the female councillor for Busabi Sub County, who demanded to know whether the money she had paid for the release of her family members, relatives, and constituents would be refunded.

The OC, however, claimed he was unaware of what had transpired at Butaleja Central Police Station (CPS).

During the meeting, residents further accused the police of negotiating cases in exchange for bribes, including serious crimes such as rape and defilement.

They cited the case of a man identified as Maligha, who allegedly raped a child but secured his freedom by paying UGX 3 million.

A staff member of World Vision working in Budumba, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, remarked, “The Butaleja Police force has been a disgrace to the public, especially in the last six months since this woman DPC was posted here. Cases are no longer determined by evidence but by how much money one can raise. There needs to be a complete overhaul of the police force in this district, including replacing the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers and increasing the number of female officers—currently, there are only four in the entire district.”

Corruption at the Heart of Butaleja’s Governance

Mr. James Wire, the outgoing chairman of Busolwe Hospital, lamented that “Butaleja District is Uganda’s sick man when it comes to corruption. That’s why it consistently ranks among the worst three districts in performance. The police operate as a clearinghouse where no case succeeds unless the accused is a poor person unable to pay. Numerous corruption cases have been reported, yet the perpetrators continue to walk freely on the streets.”

Further allegations indicate that DPC Ayesiga recently ordered the arrest of anti-corruption activist Mr. Moses Lyadda for exposing her involvement in corruption alongside district political leaders.

It is alleged that the DPC frequently associates with LC V Chairman Mr. Michael Bory Higenyi and District Speaker Mr. Yunus Hamira, both of whom have been implicated in corruption within the education sector—allegedly charging illegal fees and misappropriating funds meant for public works.

Reports also suggest that this trio orchestrated the transfer of several Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) and the RDC, Ms. Eva Kwesiga, after they opposed their corrupt dealings.

Over the past two financial years, Butaleja has had five CAOs and three RDCs, as political leaders allegedly push for the removal of anyone who resists their corruption.

Public Losing Faith in Law Enforcement

Amid growing frustration over the lack of intervention from authorities, many residents are turning to mob justice, citing a total breakdown of trust in the district’s security apparatus.

This is a developing story, and our sources continue to investigate corruption in Butaleja District.

Further details will be published in the coming weeks.