Mahad Katongole, a supporter of the Opposition National Unity Platform, also a trader in Kikuubo, one of the busiest trading places within Kampala city, has been arrested after severe beating by people suspected to be operatives under the Joint Anti Terrorism Taskforce in Kampala.
Katongole who is also accused of having a marital affair with a client, said to be a concubine of one of the operatives, a one Kivumbi who used to work with former Inspector General of Police Gen Edward Kale Kayihura, was on Monday morning surrounded by the armed operatives at his shop and beaten.
An eye witness who asked not to be named for fear of being beaten too told this website that operatives arrived earlier than Katongole and started positioning themselves within the different corners of the trading area ready to attack.
“We have all been frightened. We didn’t know what they had come to do. When Katongole arrived, he was immediately beaten and accused of supporting NUP while taking away their women. They were asking why he is such disrespectful to them,” the eyewitness told this website.
The operatives have been established as those working under the Lipanda gang that is coordinated by Gen Kale Kayihura, the former Inspector General of Police.
Later, after being beaten, Katongole was taken to a nearby clinic to immediately get medical attention. Upon identifying that he is getting medical treatment, the operatives surrounded Katongole in the clinic and arrested him.
“It was from here that he realized that Shamusa, his wife is the reason for the severe harassment.”
The Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Luke Oyowesigire, asked to comment about the incident said he was yet to get more information and be briefed.
Katongole who also supports the opposition National Unity Platform has been at the center of rallying several traders with in the area to support NUP on grounds that the current regime has not offered support for the business community in Kampala.
