Police Officer Arinaitwe Bwana Granted Bail.

Arinaitwe Bwana, who in 2015 was also in court over family violence, is this time around facing charges of aggravated trafficking in person where his victim alleges that she was subjected to sexual violence too.

Gilbert Arinaitwe Bwana in Court

Superintendent of Police Gilbert Arinaitwe Bwana, who is facing charges of aggravated trafficking in person, has been granted bail by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court.

Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi, presiding over the case, ruled on Friday that Arinaitwe could be released on bail, setting the amount at 2 million shillings in cash. The court determined that the charges against him were bailable, and the presented sureties were sufficient to ensure his presence during the trial.

The prosecution’s allegations state that on June 23rd, 2023, at Nalumunye Bandwe Kyengera Town Council in Wakiso District, Arinaitwe and accomplices (who remain at large) recruited, confined, transported, and exploited a 23-year-old woman through various forms of coercion for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor.

Last week, Arinaitwe was arraigned in court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Arinaitwe, who is associated with the Crime Intelligence division of the Uganda Police, sought bail through his lawyer James Njogu, arguing that the offense he was charged with was bailable and that he supports his young family as the sole breadwinner.

He presented his mother, Olive Bwana, a police officer named Sandy Nicholas, his cousin, and his friend John Patrick Lukwiya as sureties. However, the Prosecution, led by Senior State Attorney Ivan Kyazze, objected to the bail application, arguing that Arinaitwe failed to provide a copy of his National Identification card and a Local Council One letter to verify his residence.

The prosecution expressed concerns that Arinaitwe might abscond from trial and interfere with state witnesses if released. Despite this, Chief Magistrate Kayizzi took into account Arinaitwe’s senior position in the police force and the presence of his family members as sureties, including his brother, who holds the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police.

Kayizzi ruled that Arinaitwe must pay 2 million shillings in cash and each of his sureties will need to execute a non-cash bond worth 10 million shillings.

Kayizzi further ordered Arinaitwe to deposit his passport with the court so as to bar him from travelling outside the country without the permission of the court.

He adjourned the case to September 7th 2023 for an update on the progress of investigations as to whether the Prosecution is ready to start trial.

Arinaitwe rose to the limelight in 2011 during the Walk to Work protest when he pepper sprayed Dr Kizza Besigye after smashing the window of his car with a pistol at Mulago Roundabout in Kampala City.

Arinaitwe, who in 2015 was also in court over family violence, is this time around facing charges of aggravated trafficking in person. His victim alleges that she was subjected to sexual violence too.

According to Police’s preliminary investigations,  the victim intimated to her friend how she had been raped more than seven times and confined with no or little food at all on top of being not paid a salary.

As a result, the investigations show that the friend contacted the area’s local defence secretary who moved to rescue the victim from Arinaitwe’s home and accompanied her to make a formal report at Nateete police station.

The victim is currently under the care of a Non-Governmental organization.

Once found guilty, the maximum sentence for aggravated trafficking in person is spending the remaining part of your natural life in prison.