KAMPALA. The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala on Thursday charged and remanded a senior police officer in the investigations department to Luzira prison for soliciting a Shs2m bribe.

Sgt Hamza Birende, the officer in charge of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department at Koome Police Station in Mukono District, appeared before Principal Grade One Magistrate, Mr Emmanuel Baguma and denied the charges.

Prosecution states that between April 3 and 7, Sgt Birende solicited the bribe from Mr Godfrey Turyahabwe as an inducement or promise to help him secure the release of his employees from custody.

It further contends that on April 7 at Chilies Bar and Restaurant on Mukono-Jinja highway, the suspect received an instalments of Shs1 million from Mr Turyahabwe to clear as per their agreement.

Records from the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) indicate that Sgt Birende’s woes stem from an incident of April 7, in which Mr Turyahabwe’s employees were arrested after they were found dealing illegally in the harvest of immature fish.

They are also said to have assaulted a police officer. When the IGG officers checked the registered case, they discovered that Sgt Birende had written a different charge and asked for a bribe to prefer a lesser charge and release of the suspects.

Court adjourned the matter to April 22 when the suspect will report back for mention of his case.