The human trafficking case against Superintendent of Police Gilbert Arinaitwe, a senior Police officer, has been deferred to March 7, 2024, as his case file has been forwarded to the International Crimes Division (ICD) of the High Court.
Arinaitwe, attached to the Crime Intelligence headquarters, faces allegations of human trafficking, with potential implications of spending the rest of his life in Luzira Prison if found guilty.
During the court session on February 8, 2024, State Attorney Judith Nyamwiza informed the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates’ Court, presided over by Ronald Kayizzi, about the transfer of Arinaitwe’s case file to the ICD. However, the reason for this transfer was not disclosed.
As a result, the court adjourned the matter to March 7, 2024, for further mention.
In the previous court session, Kayizzi had granted the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) a final opportunity to present witnesses. Nyamwiza cited difficulties in reaching the witnesses, stating, “The witnesses are unreachable on their telephone contacts.”
The prosecution alleges that Arinaitwe and others recruited, maintained, confined, transported, transferred, harbored, facilitated, or received Joan Namukasa in June 2023 in Nalumunye Bandwe, Kyengera Town Council, Wakiso district, for purposes including sexual exploitation, forced labor, involuntary servitude, or debt bondage.
Arinaitwe gained notoriety in 2011 when he pepper-sprayed former presidential candidate Dr. Kiiza Besigye during the “walk-to-work” protests against rising fuel prices.
