In defence of Agaba and Komakech

We need to place their actions against international practice even in democracies like the USA, France, and Italy

Since the late January shooting incident in Luzira that killed one person and injured two, the public has been baying for the blood of the “culprits” to wit (now) former director for planning in KCCA, George Agaba and a policeman, Santos Komakech. To whet the appetite of an angry public, the DPP moved fast to charge them with murder. The police also moved swiftly to distance themselves from the incident accusing KCCA officials of going to evict encroachers without notifying them.

Before the ever sentimental section of Uganda’s chattering class lynch me for defending Agaba and Komakech, let me first admit that many of the emotions expressed by the public are justified. Loss of life is a serious matter. With the benefit of hindsight, I suspect even Agaba would admit he should have handled the situation much better. He would also probably admit to a couple of errors of judgement. For instance, he should have gone with a large police force to oversee the eviction. If he looked at the video, even Komakech would probably admit that he should not have been as zealous. I suspect he would also realise that he should have aimed his gun much higher to avoid the tragedy he ended up causing.

However, hindsight is clear sight; we have the hindsight because we have carefully watched the video in the comfort of our living rooms. We have the patience, emotional stability and calmness of our homes and are therefore able to see where there was a chance to exercise restraint. It is like blaming Theo Walcott for that goal he failed to score against Aston Villa in the FA Cup. He could have passed the ball to Van Perse on his left or Song to the far end of the goal post both of whom were unmarked. I suspect during the pressure of the game those off the pitch would see more scoring opportunities than the players.

The problem is that neither Agaba nor Komakech had that luxury we have in our living rooms. They were acting on the spur of the moment and in a hostile environment. They had a mob that was wielding sticks, iron bars and stones surrounding them. And it was making a lot of noise. Noise creates a mood of emergency. The mob can also be seen in the video lynching KCCA enforcement officers with sticks, stones and fists. And it injured 15 of them, six badly. Police have their medical reports. The cameraman focused on Komakech, not the mob.

Komakech is not the monster the mob and its police allies paint in television interviews. The reaction of Komakech is clearly one of self-defence; to save his life and that of the KCCA officers under his charge and who were, by the way, enforcing a lawful order. If Komakech did what he did in the circumstances of attack from a mob in any democracy – Sweden, USA, UK, Norway etc, he would not have been arrested as he was. The NTV video, even with the biases of the cameraman, is enough to show that he was acting in self-defence for himself and the KCCA team.

If Komakech and through him Agaba overreacted, it was because they were at the risk of being overpowered by the mob. In fact during most of the shooting, Agaba himself had escaped from the scene already, his car (and other KCCA vehicles), had their windscreens shuttered by the mob. Even if Komakech and Agaba are accused of overreaction, we should not be blind to the violence meted against officers of KCCA enforcing lawful orders by this mob. The rule of law means that law governed behaviour is the rule. Without the rule of law we have anarchy.

The fact that the mob was armed and was lynching KCCA officials is sufficient justification for Komakech’s actions. We need to place Komakech’s actions against international practice even in democracies. In 1999, the New York Police Department (NYPD) was chasing a serial killer in a city suburb. Then they saw a young guy, Amadou Diallo, who fitted the description of the suspect on the street and ordered him to stop. The boy, an immigrant from Guinea, began running away from the police officers.

As he was climbing the staircase to his apartment, the police caught up with him. They shouted at him to stop and put up his hands. Instead, he stopped and put his hand in his rear pocket to remove something. The officer in charge, fearing the young man could have been pulling out a gun, gave an order to shoot. Forty one bullets were shot at this hapless boy, 19 of them in his chest and he died instantly. When they got to his copse, they found he had pulled only a wallet from his pocket, most likely to show them his identification documents.

The case generated mass hysteria in New York and the whole of America. This was especially so among the African-American community against who police brutality is often selectively applied. Perhaps because of political pressure, the police officers involved in the incident were charged with murder. In fact the trial had to be taken out of New York City to a neutral venue so that public sentiments do not significantly influence the jury. To cut the long story short, the case went up to the supreme court of the USA. The police officers were acquitted. The judges agreed that police action was reasonable given the circumstances; the fear that the suspect was going to shoot and kill the police officers.

I can cite other examples of police in UK, Norway and France who have acted in such a manner during riots. In many such cases, police officers are not charged with murder for defending themselves. If that happened, few people would be willing to join the police to risk their lives for our safety. In dealing with the Agaba-Komakech case, we need to bench-mark them against international practice even in democracies. The public is justified to get emotional about the death of a person but that should not be the guiding rationale for the DPP, the police and other institutions of state.

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written by andruale ivan, February 11, 2012

the story of the boy from guinea has caught my attention and made me really sad. running away from the police when we know we have done nothing is uncalled for. but one wud run from ugandan police because in most cases whether uyou are right or wrong you have to give kittu kidogo ( a bribe) before you are set free.

A different case, not murder, would be reasonable
written by Musinguzi Denis, February 11, 2012

Andrew, I was taught in my first semester at the University in the Introduction to Ethics class that the morality of an action is judged based on its motive and circumstances. It’s a known fact that Agaba, Komaketch and the KCCA officers were not on a war trip to Luzira, but rather on a lawful and legitimate operation in exercise of their mandate as ably articulated in the article. The circumstance of an irate mob to the magnitude of what they faced makes it even the more conspicuous that their action was only provoked in self defense, not in any way intended.

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written by Musinguzi Denis, February 11, 2012

I am certainly aware that law and ethics operate on different lanes, but the two are essentially mutually inclusive. As such, any application of law based on what is merely written in law books but in total disregard of the environment of the crime would be more blind than desirable. In fact I have come to believe that a good lawyer is not he who defends the law, but he who challenges the law. If Agaba and Komaketch must be incarcerated for murder because a life was lost without considering their mandate and the security scare of their own lives, then the law applicable should have been amended yesterday.

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written by Musinguzi Denis, February 11, 2012

This is not to exonerate the two officers but to decry any outrageous implication of murder. My sense of the whole issue is that the otherwise lawful operation was mismanaged, in part for not including the police who’re more trained in community policing than the ill-trained KCCA law enforcement officers, and also for Agaba’s failure to read the mood of the masses and hence exercising some restraint. I hence believe a relative offence rather than the knee-jerk murder case would be preferred. Again as you observed, the protection of public officers in the execution of their mandate is pertinent.

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written by Musinguzi Denis, February 11, 2012

We should also be mindful of a rather disturbing fact that KCCA is a semi-autonomous body, with its court and security officers. Agaba’s case in my opinion should help us to rethink the level of powers given to such administrative organs. Such powers may be prone for misuse.

Andrew, what happened to Jacob in Dundee University?
written by Rajab Kakyama, February 11, 2012

Like any peasant, Andrew is eager to let everybody know that is sponsoring one Jacob in Oil Law related matters at Dundee University. What Andrew is not eager about is to study the discipline himself. Andrew, Law is wider than writing a story where you can say, "to cut the long story short." The more reason as to why in your American story justice had to be followed up to the highest Court(Supreme court). For you to state that the judge acted on the whims of the public is quite absurd. Law has got a process, before you exonerate Agaba and Komakech, what are the facts, issues and then resolutions. Edward Coke thought of law as "perfect reason." which commands proper conduct and prohibits its contrary. Ask Jacob!

Mwenda, please calm down.
written by kato, February 11, 2012

It seems he has taken to attacking what he calls the ''chattering class'' agrees on. Yes, it is true that the suspects (and they are suspects) may have felt they were in danger. And what is wrong with that being estabilshed at the trial? I also notice he is all over the place claiming to know the US because he was here for a few months as a student in California. Where i have lived for over 7 yrs the police does not behave like he wants us to believe it does in the entire US. What about the threats of sighting other 'democracies' which he does not do. He should have deleted this line.Does he have an editor or he happy with publishing unproven statements?

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written by Lt .Col Adam kifaliso, February 11, 2012

Andrew , did you complain of someone searching on your crotch on visit to USA ? the levels of crime committed by law enforcement agencies is high with impunity , Agaba was in possession of an assault rifle and his bodyguard a pistol , Agaba like many state house operatives is from Rwanda and a relative to Kutesa ,Uganda looses 30% of GNP to Rwanda through, people with dual nationality in highly paid govt positions like that of URA boss Kagina . Agaba did not inform the police but chose to arm himself . Do you think m7 will be able to engineer a genocide in Uganda ...? it might be late remember there people in prison despite never being charged , where is justice

Hearts and Minds
written by James, February 11, 2012

Did you ever find out what happened to the driver of the army commander who shot dead some drunk lout that was attempting to disarm him? During Vietnam there was a concerted attempt to win over the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people to reduce on those joining the armed uprising.

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written by Bob Rugambwa, February 11, 2012

One question, If Komaketch & Agaba didn't have a gun, the mob would have possibly lynched them. Would it produce this mass outrage from the public?
Get that video and watch it once more, carefully look at Komaketch's face, you will clearly see someone who is afraid, afraid of what an angry mob could do.
Agaba & Komaketch were doing their job which often times we have complained that gov't officials don't do their work. They found themselves in the line of fire, and surely had a right to defend themselves.

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written by James, February 11, 2012

In our case in Uganda we seem to have VERY large hearts and little or no minds. Large hearts so full of hatred bred from rumour, propaganda and down right lies. Until the government works to QUASH these lies rumours and propaganda they have no chance at winning over the hearts and minds of this highly volatile (thankfully fast burning) people.

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written by James, February 11, 2012

I ask myself every time this happens how we can be SO SHOCKED AND HURT at the loss of one life while at the same time call for the taking of another in retribution. How opposition tacitly approves of armed (am told anything that does not fire bullets is not being armed) protests but not the repercussions. All those who think only guns are armed should LOOK AT RWANDA!!
Someone once said "first they burn the books then they burn you..." about the German genocide. In Kampala it is first they "stone you then they kill you". God help us when we fail to see that our actions have repercussions and that violence attracts more violence.

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No wonder Africa is Still a Darker Continent
written by Ggomba, February 12, 2012

Wrong again Andrew, trying to defend Agaba. First, Diallo's father won a civil siut against the NYPD in million $$, which you can never do in NRM uganda. Secondly, Diallo's never went to USA Supreme court as it was a state case and it was never appealed to th USA Supreme court. Agaba's intent was to kill. The so called mob did not all a sudden became a mob. Agaba as educated as he is, should have had police escort. Ignorance of the law, is not an excuse to commit a crime except in NRM's Uganda, the good thing about your article is that you realised how democracy can work in USA etc but you always support the rotten regime in Uganda.

Not acceptable.
written by Francis Ezeu, February 12, 2012

Komakech was shooting indiscriminately at people, even at those who were fleeing or hiding behind bushes. Not acceptable in any European country, or even in trigger-happy USA.

Damascene conversion?
written by Omeros, February 12, 2012

Andrew, it is satisfying to see you call for policing methods employed in Uganda to be judged by the equivalent standards in Western democracies. The foundation of your critique of elite opposition to government maladministration is that it ignores the local context and judges Ugandan institutions and statecraft unfittingly by the standards of practice that have evolved in advanced capitalist, democratic societies. That objection appears to have been abandoned here. So I trust that you will be extending your call to emulate the West to the matter of standards of public administration and standards the of constitutional government.

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written by katamba mutyaba, February 12, 2012

lack of logical insight on both sides of the receiving end in Luzira. for the KCCA, short-sighted policy implementation has led to incidents like Luzira. Ugandan beauracracy is illogical - it fails to implement policy now and only wakes up to implement it later with much harsher consequences. it is like failing to take care of your nutrition and then waking up one morning to go for a highly invasive surgery to cope with your obesity. the layperson has thrown away logical reasoning and replaces it with an outrageous and exagerated sense of entitlement. the cancer of in-effective thinking habits is eating away at Ugandan society and has to be uprooted .

Poor 'James'
written by Harry, February 12, 2012

James, I can see you are reeling in your own filth, sorry for you bwana but you bred the leopard and now its turned to eat you. You have every reason to be very very scared, coz things can only get worse.
I am having my last laugh as I knew I would.

Journalist,/Film Director
written by Bright, February 12, 2012

Hey Andrew,

I like the fact that you've labored to make a case on behalf of the accused.
However, UK, one of the world's oldest democracies, doesn't handle riots like the case in question. How many times have buildings and vehicles been set ablaze in the UK and police engaged in several battles with rioters armed with petrol bombs yet no blood shed?

I admire your courage and conviction to speak boldly no matter how controversial the situation as long as you believe you're standing for the truth. In this scenario, though, I respectfully, don't make sense of your stand.

Mr
written by Musiru, February 13, 2012

Muhenda is a Musenene ass kisser, when his Sister stole UBC land he was all over the place defending her. No surprises here for me. The man is a State Operative and has to ear a living defending the indefensible. What a Load of crap

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I bet you cannot
written by Marvin Ya Kuku, February 13, 2012

"I can cite other examples of police in UK, Norway and France who have acted in such a manner during riots. In many such cases, police officers are not charged with murder for defending themselves"
I bet you cannot cite any examples. Show me any police officer in any of those countries caught on tape escaping murder charges by doing what KCCA did and i will give you 100 Uganda shillings, a very big ripe fene, some mukene and a jerry can of tonto or waragi but not both

Separate your judgement from your tribal orientation
written by ojfrog, February 13, 2012

Bob Rugambwa, I pity you and highly question your ability to see clearly and make proper judgement. You need to visit a psychiatrist. Why am i angry with you, because i happened to be at the scene in Luzira and watched in fear as Komakech assisted Agaba take the law into thier own hands and take a life with them..please take care when following Mwenda or agreeing with him, 30 years of NRM rule has caused some of you to lose your human senses and many of your type can't separate their judgement from their tribal orientation. in fact its not Komakech you guys are worried about but Agaba. God forbid.

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written by Sultan, February 13, 2012

I had been tempted to sympathise with the duo of Agaba and Komaketch given the circumstances. The brilliant footage however does not vindicate any of them (Thanks to the heroic cameraperson at whom Komaketch's weapon was aimed) There is no evidence at all that the crowd was menacing and of imminent hazard. Even then, the duo had the option of fleeing and perhaps loosing a vehicle, maybe a gun but saving a lives. At the worst, they had the option of firing in the air, like the police sometimes does to scare protestors away. But alas, the guns were aimed horizontal, in offensive posture, deliberately targeted to maim life. There is no default defense for such behaviour I am afraid. Should there be, there is no reason to pre-empt the courts of the land.

Defending Savages: In Uganda Barbarianism is King
written by Ocheto, February 13, 2012

It is unfathomable that this kind of abhorrent abuse of civility even merits any intellectual discourse. These idiots are still as barbaric as in Uganda's anarchic days. The victims were plain folks, who wouldn't hurt a fly. They never presented any threat to these criminals and murderers? Uganda is slowly but certainly returning to its familiar norms where barbarianism is king. That is why you find people like Mwenda (so-called elite) defending the indefensible, and to do so they resort to cheery picking examples from abroad to prop their otherwise limp arguments. To murder innocent people in cold blood in a dispute over piece of real estate is as brutal and savage as it gets. Put them in jail and throw away the keys.

shallow reasoning"MWENDA"
written by Steven Nsubuga, February 14, 2012

When you look at the tape when this gentleman was shooting at people, he had all the time to contemplate his actions. He walked around like a drugged bum, pointing his gun in all kinds of direction. It is also alleged that he is a trained officer. During such training, he must have gotten cues about reaction during such situations. Besides, in this 21st Century, pointing a weapon at civilians is a crime in itself regardless of whether it is fired. It is called attempted murder "in developed countries". But even in Uganda, that should become the norm

Good Observation Omeros
written by Raymond, February 14, 2012

I am a bit baffled by AM support for judging local contexts using international standards/ democracies, yet this is the basis he has always used to critique ‘Ugandan elites’ arguing for ‘certain universal minimum standards’-for being unsophisticated and ill-informed i.e. ignoring local contexts. AM May want counter that each situation is context specific; granted. My concern is that, in most cases, the choice of AM retreat from and to local contexts is mainly motivated by defense of the individuals involved, not the situation at hand- which should be the case. So if anyone was to follow AM model of when to apply or not apply local contexts, they would be confused unless know the culprits to favour apply the contexts that suite them. Would this be justice then?

Old Man, Low-rated comment [Show]

..., Low-rated comment [Show]

Prudence is necessary even when armed with lawful orders
written by Kayumba David, February 14, 2012

While that Agaba and komakech may have been e in danger; it is a danger that should have been and should be prevented. Prudence is necessary even when armed with lawful orders. Dispossessing people of their only means of survival is a difficult task that calls for moralization. It is important that both the means and the ends sought after are right. Government's action tend to be viewed suspiciously by the public and so it is bound to face stiff and unkind reception and that is why, I think it is important that in situation of evicting people, there should be a kind of dialogue with the affected parties.

Mwenda Evading Stories of Bigger Import
written by Ocheto, February 14, 2012

The most important story in Uganda is that Museveni despite efforts by the nation including the parliament dominated by his own partisans is still secretly signing oil agreements worth billions of dollars. The logic behind his arguments in support of his actions makes absolutely no sense. And it doesn't end: his cabinets ministers, which includes a Harvard trained law professor and a central bank manager were honoring bank checks worth outrageous and inflated amounts of cash against the directives of their own boss. This is all endemic of a corrupt government running out of control, and the people of Uganda needing extrication from the mess.

Ruthless Eviction of Bona Fide Occupants (Squatters) - Land Act 2009
written by Banda, February 14, 2012

Andrew, thank you for this piece. Under what Law was the eviction of squatters on public land carried? Given that the KCCA Director is not a Court Judge and KCCA is not a Judicial Authority, which Court issued the Order of Eviction? The Executive Director claimed that the evicition was made in accordance with the law but failed to disclose the exact law which was followed. Ms Musisi made no reference to the controversial Land Act 2009 which was enacted by the NRM govt . mbu to protect bona fide occupants/squatters (bibanja holders) from ruthless evictions. Which law gives KCCA staff to be armed and to use offensive weapons like automatic assault rifle and sticks against unarmed civilians? Agaba was shown pulling out an AK47.

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written by Omeros, February 15, 2012

I tease, Andrew. But only mildly. The single Western example you cite (which is not a crowd control case) is used as a rhetorical figleaf to legitimate a course of action that no Western civil authority would undertake. The most recent high profile eviction in a Western setting that I can recall was that of the Roma community that had unlawfully settled Green Belt land at Dale Farm in Essex, England. 100 police officers were sent in to secure the property so as to ensure the safety of the council's bailiffs as they set about the business of recovering possession of the property. The police took several hours to complete their work before the bailiffs were invited to do theirs.

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written by Omeros, February 15, 2012

Needless to say, the council's agents were not harmed and neither was any evictee. No such police effort was undertaken in Luzira and the results of that oversight are all too clear. When set against a like incident in the West, Ugandan police work compares unfavourably with its Western peer.

Mr
written by Edgar Kiiza, February 15, 2012

Does the charge that KCCA law enforcement officials and Director went on an eviction exercise without the Police infer that there would have been zero death? Uganda Police occasionally and inadvertently causes death to civilians in similar highly emotional exercises as evictions and demonstrations. It therefore defeats logic for one to assume that it was Police absence that occasioned recklessness on the part of the KCCA and on the part of the emotional residents (Mob).

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written by Edgar Kiiza, February 15, 2012

Uganda Police is not known to command such respect as to cool down mobs, it instead instigates infuriation.
The actions of the mob; failure to heed lawful eviction orders thrice without formal discontinuation of the process through an injunction..etc in addition to the threat of violence, justified the actions of Komakech and Agaba in self defence.

m7 step aside and leave Uganda ASAP
written by Lt .Col Adam kifaliso, February 15, 2012

I can now even see a private criminal investigator in Andrew ........Not politically biased ...I can presume , Andrew the debate must be about Ugandan economic decline and unemployment , m7 is promising to do many projects with the money deposited in Escrow Account by oil company eg Karuma dam , replacing state reserves , roads and schools , does a president need to lie to his people like a village fool ? or he needs just to step aside when he can no longer deliver , m7 must realise that his party is rotten and his promises are just lies , he is prolonging the suffering of Ugandans for NO reason something his family and relatives will pay dearly , he is committing a crime by not stepping a side

Was there restraint in the planning of the op?
written by SebaSpace, February 15, 2012

"We have the patience, emotional stability and calmness of our homes and are therefore able to see where there was a chance to exercise restraint." (Mwenda). I wonder why Agaba and his people didn't think of all this during the planning stages of this operation. BTW, has the eviction of the police post outside Imperial Royale happened yet? KCCA seems to be using restraint there!

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written by SebaSpace, February 15, 2012

And Andrew ... it is interesting that you seem to personally know all these people you are defending. Agaba is a Madame Curie, Komakech is a Mother Theresa... where do these people find you to let you in on their innermost thoughts and reasoning?

Mwenda, your star has truly faded!
written by Emperror, February 15, 2012

The start that was Andrew Mwenda has truly faded. How could you overlook the fact that Komaketch was NOT supposed to be there at the time the act was comitted in coming to your conclusion? That the "mob" was meting violence against KCCA officials, does not mitigate the crime, in any case, there are laws that deal with actual and grevious bodily harm to which the "mob" can (up to now) be subjected. Just to press the point, convicts of ABH and GBH do not get a death sentence.
That Agaba chose to take Komaketch along is clear evidence of malice afforethought.

Did the Crowd have Arrows and Spears?
written by Sam Karuhanga, February 15, 2012

Andrew, if you take time to study the second paragraph of your own article, you will find that the failings stated there amount to criminal activity - pure and simple. You can not aim a gun directly at a crowd which is several meters away (see the video!) and claim that your or indeed KCC staff lives were in iminent danger. If Komakech had shot in the air, the crowds whose arms (if you call them so) were so inferior to his, would have scampered for cover giving him and his clients a window to safely withdraw. No one, armed with a machette or axe can dare to approach within meters a man armed with an AK47!. That theory makes no sense even in confusion you have so laboured to paint.

American Police are themselves not civilised
written by Sam Karuhanga, February 15, 2012

Also Andrew if you ever wanted to benchmark Uganda police's human rights record, you might be better off using examples from elsewhere rather than the US. The treatment of suspects in the US clearly proves that the American police's respect for human rights is minimal. If all one needed was to perform to the standard of the US police to be regarded as good, then Kayihura's men would actually not be far off the mark!.

What about a Public Enquiry?
written by Sam Karuhanga, February 15, 2012

We need to begin to ask serious questions about the standard of training, supervision and accountability that is available to the police and security services in Uganda as far as the use of fire arms in public order circumstances is concerned. You probably know better than i do that Komakech is not an isolated incident. Individual perpetrators might carry criminal responsibility but there are clear institutional failings and someone much higher is responsible for those. In fact i would go as far as demanding a public enquiry into these shootings. If our democracy is to continue to grow, people at all levels in authority must be held accountable in a transparent way.

KCCA acted wrongly
written by Denis Nkunda, February 16, 2012

I certainly believe that the situation in Luzira would not have degenerated into a chaotic one had Agaba given residents a few minutes grace period for them to arrange and shift their property as they had requested him.
Therefore, Agaba and his bodyguard should be given what they deserve.

andrew oops
written by hillary, February 16, 2012

andrew you have disappointed me, i thought you were in the queue for our next president but with such views because of good ideas. you can never merit to even contest for an L.C one seat. from what you have shown today.

Even older man
written by Marvin Ya Kuku, February 16, 2012

Oi the name is Marvin Ya Kuku. Anyway, I will keep my two shs 50 coins, my tonto, mukene and my fene as you just gave general examples. I want specific cases with real names and such clear video evidence where a cop was not prosecuted, or even thought of as a "bad guy". You cannot period! *Punches fist in air and heads off to enjoy his tonto drink and mukene* Its a hollow victory but a victory none the less. Cheers!!!

Komakech reaction not the norm.
written by D.Oduki, February 16, 2012

In the case of Diallo, I believe the unfortunate tragedy was due to the inexperience of the young plain clothes policemen who may not have had the experience to analyse that Diallo may have run from them because he was suspicious they could have been robbers..( Malcolm Gladwells book 'Blink' )
Such a reaction by Police in Europe is extremely rare.
Imagine the situation of the Norwegian Brevink who blew up Oslo and then went on a shooting spree. He was actually arrested by the police unharmed. In the USA or maybe UK it may have turned out differently.
On a positive note the Uganda police now have a real-time training video of what not to do.

Michael Kors Outlet
written by Michael Kors Outlet, February 17, 2012

Michael Kors is on the top listings of brand these days. It provides a good sense of fashion and perfect choice of colors.

Basically, most brands are offering the same product lines; they only compete with regards to quality and design.

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Michael Kors Outlet
written by Michael Kors Outlet, February 17, 2012

The Michael Kors Outlet is not a location that Michael Kors Outlet usually consider prime advertising real estate.

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Michael Kors
written by Michael Kors, February 17, 2012

You are able to get a Michael Kors handbag for as low as $150 online. So, not only does acquiring on the internet save you money, it also allows you to buy more than one handbag at a time.

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written by Lt .Col Adam kifaliso, February 17, 2012

Andrew's pod casts reflect the other side of Andrew's self proclaimed Sophia (this time not Greek),the pod casts give an impression of an opportunist , who has traded his wisdom for pieces of meat from butchers of the city market,it seems Andrew has a bigger stomach than his mind, Andrew its seems your star is darkening faster and soon you will be ignored as the Pyramids of Egypt , you belong to the Museum of thought and you are an object of trade for profit and exploitation by the greedy

American case
written by JT, February 17, 2012

Hi Andrew, I simply would like to point out that the example brought forward in your article clearly indicates that the accused were rightly remanded for their actions since the police officers responsible for shooting the boy were charged for murder but acquitted. I believe the example of the brazilian national that was shot down in the london underground is more suiting as the police officers that carried out those horrid orders were not charged instead it was the most senior member of the metropolitan police that took the wrap and resigned. I think what Ugandans ought to be asking themselves as a result of this incident is Do we want the laws and authorities to have any sort of meaning or are we willing to entertain lawlessness at the behest of the mob!

mwenda
written by hillary, February 17, 2012

andrew i have a simple question to ask you if you a gun would you have killed also?

I will never read this M7 proganda paper again
written by Okello, February 17, 2012

Shall never ever read this quyz paper anymore he stinks, very shallow and biased

Sophistry. Again.
written by Che Guevara, February 17, 2012

Mr. Mwenda, it is difficult not to suspect you of engaging in a spot of sophistry. For pay or otherwise. The issue is not so much what happened on the ground, the issue is that KCCA should have gotten itself in this situation in the first place. That is the failure. Focusing on the immediate events serves only to draw attention away from the bigger failure of the KCCA leadership. To wit: A lack of imagination.

Sophistry (cont'd)
written by Che Guevara, February 17, 2012

A parable: A man has a side dish. One day, she comes to his home and moves into the boys quarters. He does nothing. After a month, the wife starts to complain. So, he goes to push her out. She kicks up a fuss, picks up a stick and threatens to hit him on the head. In the heat of the moment, he chops her with a panga and kills her. Now, Mwenda would have us focus on the act of killing. But that is misleading. The man is partly responsible. He should have offered her alternative lodging or, at least, tricked her into exiting without a fight....

Sophistry (cont'd)
written by Che Guevara, February 17, 2012

The Revolutionary despairs of what you have become, Mwenda. You keep mentioning people like Prof. Banage as mentors. I think they must despair to look at what you have become. So much intellect subjugated to the whims of the highest bidder. A mad master, however much he pays, passes on his insanity to his servants. The Revolutionary will not return until you have dug your soul out of the muck.

Double standard !
written by Mavi ya punda, February 17, 2012

What happened when Ofwono Opondo one early morning shot dead an unarmed suspected car thief...where did the case end? Opondo was not charged...Charging Asaba and Komakech is Komakech itself!

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written by Lt .Col Adam kifaliso, February 17, 2012

Amama Mbabazi killed a man he found in his bedroom , it happens the man was one of his bodyguards , and a UPDF veteran ,what did the police do., Andrew is also about to kill someone , could be MP . Karuhanga......?

Bazark
written by Robert, February 17, 2012

I had resisted to comment on this article because the Author over simplified his assertions as to why he thinks Agaba and Komakech should be set free! I have questions Mwenda for you? Why did KCCA enforce the eviction on Sunday when you know sunday is a resting day for government workers? Why did Agaba refuse to give the tenants 2 hours to remove their properties from there houses, after the LC requested him? DId KCCA get permission to use government cars on non official day? KCCA broke the law, to use official government cars on Sunday to carry out the evictions?

...
written by Robert, February 17, 2012

Agaba the civilian, why did he pull out an AK47 and he failed to start to shoot? He is supposed to face the General Court Martial for illegal position of fire arms! Why did Komakech shoot direct into the public instead of shooting in the air? He was supposed to shoot directly into the rioters if they were equally armed like him! Now that you have written the article please go and pick your cheque from Musisi, since you think the Rich are the only people you can associate with. What if your corrupt ridden sister is put on firing squad by M7 for enriching her self using government land, would you praise M7. I think Andrew your running Bazaark these days

Cuaght up
written by Agaba, February 18, 2012

Andrew caught you out. He got you reading this rubbiish albeit, even discussing it.
we all shold have kept quiet and not responded to the rubbish Andrew alleges.
As they say, hold your breath and the stench will pass.

network engineer
written by cahnpek patrick, February 23, 2012

smart people are always judge wrongly in Uganda. these guz were executing a lawful instruction from KCCA and this can easily be understood by any Ugandan who understand the rule of law. the problem with most Ugandan is that they intentionally refuses to read their law to confuse people but smart people like andrew are trying to pump sense in them. what puzzles me is the action by the learned police chief who dont know what he's doing and he calls himself IGP. i actually doubt that guz prolificacy in the force because at sometime he talk things which are contrary to what the police are doing.

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