By KT Reporter
Prosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) have informed the International Crimes Division of the High Court that key witnesses, including the victim in the aggravated trafficking case against senior police officer Gilbert Arinaitwe Bwana, remain missing.
This update was delivered on Monday by Chief State Attorney Joseph Kyomuhendo when the matter came up for hearing before Lady Justice Alice Komuhangi Khauka. Kyomuhendo requested the Court to adjourn the matter to allow more time for the prosecution to locate the witnesses and consult further with DPP Jane Frances Abodo on the appropriate course of action.
In response, Justice Komuhangi adjourned the hearing to April 22, 2025, with a stern reminder to all parties to be ready to proceed on the said date. The charges against Bwana were confirmed by the International Crimes Division in December 2024, with the Head of Division, Justice Dr. Andrew Bashaija, ruling that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to commit the officer to trial.
According to the prosecution, Bwana lured the victim from Mbarara to Kampala with a promise of employment as a housemaid. However, upon arrival, the victim was reportedly subjected to repeated sexual violence, including unprotected intercourse at gunpoint, and confined with minimal food and no salary. It is further alleged that Bwana used his authority to exploit and coerce the victim.
Evidence on record shows Bwana arranged the victim’s travel, received her at Nateete, and housed her for a month—details he reportedly confirmed in his statement. Medical reports presented in court corroborate the victim’s claims, indicating an old ruptured hymen, bruising, and signs of inflammation. Additional testimony by the victim’s aunt, Agnes Katushabe, links her to a woman who facilitated the job offer and sent UGX 40,000 for transport.
Bwana, a controversial figure, came to national attention in 2011 when he pepper-sprayed opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye after smashing the window of his car during the Walk to Work protests. In 2015, he was also taken to court on allegations of domestic violence. This time, Bwana faces a charge of aggravated trafficking in persons, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if found guilty. Police investigations indicate that the victim told a friend she had been raped over seven times, denied food, and never paid for her labor. The friend then reportedly alerted the local defense secretary, who helped rescue the victim and escorted her to Nateete Police Station to file a formal complaint. Authorities previously revealed that the victim is currently under the care of an undisclosed non-governmental organization for her safety-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
