The inspector general of police (IGP) Okoth Ochola has redeployed SP Aaron Baguma after more than two years of serving a suspension over the alleged murder of businesswoman Donah Katushabe.
Baguma the former divisional police commander (DPC), Kampala Central police station, got suspended in July 2016 over allegations that he played a hand in the alleged murder of Katushabe at Pine car bond in 2015.
Baguma who was arrested in 2017 and remanded to Luzira prison until January 2018 is now been deployed in the private security and firearms department under the directorate of operations.
Baguma who was arrested in 2017 and remanded to Luzira prison until January 2018 is now been deployed in the private security and firearms department under the directorate of operations.
Two days earlier, Ochola had appointed Baguma as the police representative at the National Medical Stores (NMS).
"SP Baguma Aaron's attachment to NMS is cancelled. He instead moves to private security and firearms department, directorate of operations," reads Ochola's message in part.
Katushabe was reportedly tortured to death at Pine car bond after she allegedly failed to pay a balance of Shs 9 million for a vehicle that she'd earlier bought.
Prosecution stated that on October 21, 2015, Baguma found Katusabe being beaten and just asked her to pay off the debt instead of saving her from the irate mob led by Muhammed Ssebuwufu, the proprietor of Pine car bond.
It added that Baguma, went to Ssebuwufu's private office where he spent about 15 minutes and was later seen leaving the scene in Sebuwufu's car. While Baguma was leaving, he allegedly asked Ssebuwufu "to handle the issue and call him in case he failed."
However, the director of public prosecutions (DPP) Mike Chibita dropped the charges against Baguma last year after failing to find evidence that could implicate him in the alleged murder. Chibita then said he dropped the murder charges against Baguma because murder file had gone missing.
Later, Chibita reportedly told Katushabe's family that there was no evidence linking Baguma to the murder contrary to his earlier communication.
He also told the family that Baguma would be a state witness. Baguma was jointly charged with eight others including Muhammed Ssebuwufu, Godfrey Kayiza, Philip Mirambe, Stephen Lwanga, Paul Tasingika, Yoweri Kitayimba, Shaban Otuddu and Damaseni Ssentongo.
The prosecution of Baguma drew angry reactions from the then IGP Kale Kayihura who are accused the DPP for witch-hunting the officer.
According to the public service standing orders, once a government employee is cleared of criminal charges or they are dropped, he is supposed to write to the Public Service Commission and be reinstated. Baguma is also supposed to receive a refund of all his salary that was deducted during his interdiction.
"A public officer interdicted shall receive such salary not being less than half of his/her basic salary, subject to a refund of the other half, in case the interdiction is lifted and the charges dropped," reads the standing order in part.
According to the public service standing orders, once a government employee is cleared of criminal charges or they are dropped, he is supposed to write to the Public Service Commission and be reinstated. Baguma is also supposed to receive a refund of all his salary that was deducted during his interdiction.
"A public officer interdicted shall receive such salary not being less than half of his/her basic salary, subject to a refund of the other half, in case the interdiction is lifted and the charges dropped," reads the standing order in part.
From the start of the case, Baguma had insisted that he had only passed at the bond and seen the victim in Sebuwufu's office.