VIDEO: A woman arrested for assaulting a traffic police officer

Police at Jinja Road station arrest a woman for assaulting a traffic officer after she was asked for her driving licence.

A stunning altercation took place yesterday when Mercy Timbitwire Bashisha who was driving a white Toyota Land Cruiser allegedly caused an accident and refused to stop when flagged down by a traffic police officer from Jinja Road Police Station .

The events happened around 11:55 a.m., according to a police statement.

“He was using his phone while driving and refused to stop, even after the officer signaled him to stop. After a short foot chase, Bashisha parked at the Manufacturers Association of Uganda and locked his vehicle. When the officer asked him for his driver’s license, he became aggressive,” the statement read in part.

“She not only refused to cooperate, but also intimidated and assaulted our officer,” the statement said.

The situation escalated when Bashisha confiscated the police’s EPS device and two phones belonging to the officer.

Bashisha is currently in custody while investigations continue.

This is not an isolated incident where traffic police officers are assaulted by civilians and fellow police officers while on duty.

In May 2022, a military officer was filmed harassing a traffic officer by dragging him by the neck in a fight over traffic congestion near the Mukwano Mall in Kampala. The fight broke out after some army officers driving in a green vehicle ordered the traffic officer to give them way. The agent, however, told them to be patient.

In December 2022, Kitgum District Police Commander (DPC), Suwed Manshur, was beaten up by citizens after he allegedly slapped a police officer. That was after he resisted arrest for violating a traffic policy that requires motorists to wear a helmet and reflective vest.