KAMPALA — Former Assistant Inspector General of Police Asan Kasingye has publicly condemned the actions of ASP Clive Nsiima Barigye after CCTV footage showing the officer striking a supermarket attendant at the Shell station in Kyanja went viral on social media.
The footage, which has circulated widely since it emerged, shows a man identified by investigators as ASP Nsiima — who is attached to the Counter Terrorism Directorate under the Oil and Gas Protection Unit — arguing with a female cashier over an unpaid bill of approximately Shs 30,000 (about $8) before striking her twice across the face. In the video the man is heard saying: “I am parking; have you ever driven such a car? … She’s there disturbing me over Shs 30,000. Do you think I can run away with Shs 100,000? I can slap you even with these cameras here and tomorrow we go to court.”
Reacting to the footage on social media, Asan Kasingye denounced the conduct in blunt terms, writing: “We never did the things you did against an innocent woman at Shell Kyanja. Who do you think you’re? Malala oba maalo? You’re a disgrace & deserve a kick at your backside from the force!” Kasingye’s post added fuel to public outrage and calls for swift disciplinary action.
https://x.com/LindaEvelyn_N/status/1975820778588545500?t=92-XmOubysC8PV7nuO6IMw&s=19
Police say Nsiima was arrested following a joint operation by officers from Kyanja Police Post and the Professional Standards Unit (PSU). Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma confirmed the arrest but did not name the suspect in his initial statement, saying only: “I hereby confirm he has been arrested.” Investigators list the matter under case reference 08/07/10/25 at Kyanja Police Post.
If charged, Nsiima faces counts of assault and threatening violence under Sections 235 and 236 of the Penal Code Act, offences that carry penalties of up to five years’ imprisonment. Police added that the supermarket attendant has filed a formal complaint and is receiving counselling and medical care.
The incident has provoked a wave of criticism online, with human rights advocates and members of the public demanding accountability for alleged abuses by security personnel. Police statistics cited in media reports show that assault and threatening violence remain common: Uganda Police Force’s 2023 Annual Crime Report recorded more than 15,300 such cases nationwide — nearly 9% of reported crimes — and rights groups have repeatedly pointed to instances involving uniformed officers as evidence of a persistent culture of impunity.
A senior officer told reporters that the probe would be handled transparently. “No one is above the law,” the officer said, while officials indicated that senior personnel are typically detained at the Railway Police Station in Kampala during investigations.
Beyond the legal case, the affair has raised broader questions about conduct, discipline and oversight inside specialised units. Social-media investigators and commenters have also shared identifying details about the suspect, saying he is the CT/oil-and-gas KMP zonal commander who frequents the CT gym in Naguru and drives a silver Nissan Fuga, registration UA 125BE — claims that investigators will need to verify as part of their enquiries.
As the investigation continues, civil society groups and commentators say the episode is a test of the police leadership’s commitment to internal discipline and public trust. For many Ugandans who watched the footage, the immediate demand is simple: swift justice, transparent inquiry and clear institutional measures to prevent similar incidents in future.
