Buganda Road Chief Magistrates’ Court has given the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) a last opportunity to present witnesses in the human trafficking case involving Superintendent of Police Gilbert Arinaitwe. The court, presided over by Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi, issued a stern warning on Tuesday, threatening to dismiss the case if witnesses fail to appear on February 7, 2024.
The directive from Magistrate Kayizzi followed state attorney Judith Nyamwiza’s admission that she had been unable to reach the witnesses, stating, “The witnesses are unreachable on their telephone contacts.”
Arinaitwe, currently on interdiction and receiving half pay, faces the charges brought against him on August 10, 2023. As of now, no witness has testified in the case. Magistrate Kayizzi emphasized that the state must be prepared to prosecute on February 7, 2024, or risk dismissal due to a lack of evidence.
The accused, Superintendent Arinaitwe, is affiliated with Crime Intelligence and is accused under section 3(1)(a) and(4)(h) of the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act 2009. If found guilty, Arinaitwe could face a life sentence in Luzira Prison.
The prosecution alleges that Arinaitwe, along with accomplices still at large, engaged in trafficking on June 2023 at Nalumunye, Bandwe in Kyengera Town Council, Wakiso District. The charges include recruiting, maintaining, confining, transporting, transferring, harboring, facilitating, or receiving Joan Namukasa through threats, use of force, coercion, deception, abuse of power, or position of vulnerability. The purpose of these actions is said to be sexual exploitation, forced labor, involuntary servitude, or debt bondage.
It is noteworthy that Arinaitwe gained public attention in 2011 for spraying Dr. Kiiza Besigye with pepper during the latter’s Walk-to-Work protests, a demonstration against soaring fuel prices.
