Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Clive Nsiima Barigye has been remanded to Luzira prison on charges of assault and malicious damage to property.
Nsiima, a resident of Kyanja in Nakawa Division, appeared before senior principal grade one magistrate Nicholas Aisu at the Kampala City Hall court on Monday. The officer, attached to the Counter Terrorism Directorate’s Oil and Gas Protection Unit, was arrested after a CCTV video went viral showing him assaulting a female supermarket attendant at Shell Kyanja.
The incident reportedly followed a dispute with Pellan Atuhumuriize, the attendant, over a Shs 30,000 bill for items he had purchased. In the video, Nsiima, dressed in civilian clothes is seen slapping Atuhumuriize twice and boasting that “nothing will happen” to him even if the matter goes to court.
He was charged with two counts: assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to Section 219 of the Penal Code Act, and malicious damage to property, contrary to Section 312 (1) of the same law.
Prosecution told court that on October 6, 2025, Nsiima unlawfully assaulted Atuhumuriize, causing her bodily harm, and willfully damaged her Infinix Hot 10 smartphone. Nsiima pleaded not guilty to both charges.
State attorney Mercy Yamangusho informed court that investigations were complete and requested a hearing date. Through his lawyer, Hamuza Kyamanywa, Nsiima told court he had since reconciled with the complainant, who was present but chose not to comment.
Kyamanywa applied for bail, presenting three sureties including Daniel Mushabe Katanyomba, an Internal Security Organization (ISO) employee from Kyengera Town Council, Mark Igumira, Nsiima’s brother and resident of Kyaliwajala, and Cynthia Nkwanzi, a resident of Nakawa Division.
However, Yamangusho objected to bail, arguing that the accused, being a police officer, was expected to uphold the law rather than break it. She said the viral nature of the incident had “deeply angered the public” and that releasing him would undermine confidence in law enforcement and the courts.
“This offence has gone viral and the public is very bitter. The accused acted with impunity of the highest order, and court must send a clear message,” she said.
In response, Kyamanywa maintained that reconciliation should be encouraged, adding that claims of public outrage were unsubstantiated.
“The same public outcry has also encouraged reconciliation. The accused remains innocent until proven guilty,” he said.
Magistrate Aisu remanded Nsiima to Luzira Prison until October 16, 2025, when the court will rule on his bail application.
He reportedly appeared before the police disciplinary court on Tuesday, October 7, and Friday, October 10, where he was charged with behaving in a scandalous manner. The court recommended a sentence of dismissal.
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