By Priscilla Owomugisha,
NATIONAL
A twitter post that alleged the misuse of a firefighting track in Mbarara has not gone viral with exception of mentions and replies of big officers in the Uganda Police Force.
Goodfriday Edson, a Uganda on twitter on July 4, posted photos of a firefighting track allegedly supplying water in villages in Ibanda. The excited internet user went on to his twitter profile account and posted:
Fire brigade vehicle in ibanda district is used to supply water in the villages, each trip costs shs 300k
Cc @AKasingye pic.twitter.com/auD7pyHyJV— Goodfriday Edson (@EdsonGoodfriday) July 4, 2022
This prompted police to carry out immediate investigation into the allegations.
Police dispatched a team of investigators from the management and Professional Standards Unit (PSU) to further look into the allegations.
The investigative team has identified that the twitter user, Goodfriday Edson is a resident of Kanoni in Kazo district, and a member of Kanoni Elites SACCO.
Police say that he took photos of the firefighting track in Ibanda under registration number UP4739, while drawing water from the fire hydrant at Kitookye stage; not supplying the water as he alleged in his tweet
Reports indicate that the track had been grounded for nearly 3 months and that it had just been returned from Kampala for mechanical repairs.
“The truck had been grounded since April 2022, and its on the 3.07.2022 that it was repaired by mechanical engineers from Kampala,” says police
They added that the track had been takrn to Kitookye on a test drive under the inspection of CPL/Driver Abigaba Samuel,(driver) together with firefighting crew members PC Koyekyenga Delson, PC Tuwangye Jacob, PC Waniaye Aron and PC Muhindo Habson, who later took the vehicle for water filling at a fire hydrant at Kitookye stage, in Ibanda.
Police says the track was then returned and parked at the station pending any fire emergency.
They have dismissed allegations of misuse and abuse of office as malice to taint the image of officers and the institute of police.
“There was no misuse as alleged. We have since established that the allegation was factually wrong and malicious.” Police said
The officers who were inspecting the vehicle on July 5 have been exonerated following the findings.
Misuse of government resources is a very serious matter and police encourages the public to always take interest in the use of police resources in their respective jurisdictions.
Police did not mention if Edson will be arrested and charged but cautioned interne users against misinforming the public.
“We should however avoid posting false allegations on social media, accusing people of committing crimes they did not commit” captioned police
