Senior Ugandan Police Officer Arrested After CCTV Captures Assault on Female Fuel Attendant
KAMPALA – The Uganda Police Force has arrested one of its own senior officers, ASP Clive Nsiima Barigye, following public outrage over a viral CCTV video that showed him brutally assaulting a female employee at a fuel station in the capital.
The incident, which has sparked a fierce national conversation about power, impunity, and the silence of bystanders, occurred at the Shell Petrol Station in Kyanja, a suburb of Kampala.
ASP Barigye serves as the Counter Terrorism/Oil and Gas Police Zonal Commander for the Kampala Metropolitan Area, a position that places him in charge of securing critical infrastructure. However, the footage depicts a starkly different image of the officer, showing him in a violent altercation with a worker identified only as Atuhumurize.
The confrontation began over an unpaid bill of approximately Shs 30,000 (Ugandan Shillings). In the video, Barigye is heard aggressively confronting the employee, demanding to know why she was questioning him over the payment.
“Have you ever driven such a car?” he is heard charging at her, before adding, “How much money have I spent here? Do you think I can run away with Shs 30,000?”
Despite the clear presence of a CCTV camera recording the entire event, and with the woman’s colleagues, other shoppers, and his own security detail looking on, Barigye proceeded with his threats. He explicitly threatened to beat her up, a promise he fulfilled by smacking her twice across the face.
The video quickly spread across social media platforms, igniting a firestorm of criticism from the public and prominent figures alike. Many Ugandans expressed fury, citing the incident as a glaring example of the impunity enjoyed by some members of the security forces.
Winnie Kiiza, the former Leader of Opposition in Parliament, commented on the disturbing inaction of the onlookers, writing, “The silence of the many can be just as deafening as the impunity of a few. Let’s look out for each other.”
Another social media user, Frida Mbabazi, echoed the sentiments of many, stating, “Uganda is facing a crisis of power and impunity. Those in authority act like the country belongs to them while ordinary citizens are left to suffer.”
Faced with mounting public pressure, the Uganda Police Force confirmed the arrest of ASP Barigye. The force stated that he is facing charges related to the assault, signaling an attempt to hold one of their own accountable in a case that has put a spotlight on institutional conduct.
The arrest, however, has done little to quell the larger questions raised by the incident, as citizens continue to demand broader accountability and an end to the abuse of power by those sworn to protect it.
