SPEAKER KADAGA SUMMONS INTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER JEJE ODONG OVER RAJIV RUPARALIA’S ASSAULT BY POLICE

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The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga on Thursday summoned the Minister of Internal Affairs Gen. Jeje Odongo to explain to the House on how police officers allegedly assaulted Rajiv Ruparelia, the Managing Director of Ruparelia Group and a son to Tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia.
According to Rajiv, members of the anti-terrorism police assaulted him near his home in Kololo, a Kampala suburb last Friday.

Rajiv’s matter was raised by Kasilo County MP Elijah Okupa who said there was need for the Minister of Internal Affairs to brief the country on what action the police force had taken against officers who allegedly attacked the businessman.

“Last week we heard about the people who wanted to kidnap Mr Rajiv Ruparelia when he was walking but was only saved by his dogs. We have been waiting for the Minister of Internal Affairs to tell us who those people because in the videos we saw they were dressed in police uniform,” Okupa told the august house.
Okupa adds that the incident was captured on CCTV cameras which makes it easy for police to apprehend the suspects.
Gen Odongo and his Junior Minister, Mario Obiga Kania were not in the House to give instant response to the matter raised on the floor.

The Speaker said the country needs an update about the people who attacked the businessman who is also a Motor Rally Driver in the broad day light.
“I ask the Minister of Internal Affairs to come here and give an update on the issue of the people who attacked Mr Rajiv,” Kadaga ruled.

Last week, Rajiv said that when he was walking his dogs in the neighborhood, he stopped a speeding vehicle to inquire why the driver was acting reckless. He said it turned out that the people traveling in the van were policemen.
He said that he told them it was unsafe for them to drive at such a speed in a residential area but they reportedly responded by telling him that they were speeding in Uganda not in India. He said that several policemen jumped out of the car and assaulted him.

“An officer angrily said to me that this is not India. This is Uganda. Immediately when the dogs realized that I was being beaten by the officers they tried to save me. This was a racial attack,” Rajiv said.

Ruparelia family deals in insurance, real estate, the hospitality industry, education, among other businesses and are Ugandans of Indian descent.
The dog handler, according to Rajiv, was also assaulted before he was admitted to hospital.
In a statement, police said the law enforcers were defending themselves against Rajiv who had reportedly set his dogs to attack them after a heated verbal exchange.

Police Deputy Spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, said on Friday that as the cops listened to Rajiv, who had stopped their car, he set his dogs at them.
“The preliminary information we have is two-sided and we can’t make conclusions. I can’t deny that our officers abused him nor can I deny that the officers were acting in self defence. We will conclude when we interview the two parties,” Owoyesigyire said.
He said that a case of rush and negligence against Rajiv, had been registered by the police officers who are attached to the officer of Bank of Uganda deputy governor.
He said that Rajiv was free to report to police and register a racial profiling and assault case against the police officers.

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