By A police officer attached to the Environmental Protection Police Unit (EPPU), PC Katungi Alex, has been arraigned before the Kajjansi Chief Magistrates Court on multiple charges of assaulting civilians under the guise of enforcing environmental laws. The arrest follows joint efforts by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the Criminal Investigations Directorate, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
PC Katungi, who was presented in court alongside AIP Hadali Keneth, is facing charges of assault, conspiracy to commit criminal acts, and abuse of office. The two have been remanded until April 9, 2025, pending further investigations.
According to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, Katungi is accused of violently assaulting several people in the Kajjansi area, often justifying his actions by accusing victims of carrying out illegal developments in wetlands. However, investigations have uncovered a much darker narrative.
Residents and local leaders in both Entebbe and Kajjansi have long complained about Katungi’s conduct, with allegations ranging from illegal arrests and harassment to extortion and land grabbing. Several investors have reportedly fallen victim to his schemes, with some being coerced into giving up their land under threat of arrest or demolition of their properties.
In a disturbing twist, Katungi is also being investigated for illegally establishing his developments within protected wetlands—an ironic breach of the very laws he was mandated to enforce. Sources within the Ministry of Water and Environment have expressed concern over the growing number of unauthorized structures near key wetland zones allegedly linked to Katungi and his associates.
“This case reflects the rot that can develop when those tasked with enforcing the law turn it into a tool for personal gain,” a senior official in the environmental sector told this publication on condition of anonymity.
Public pressure has mounted in recent months, as videos and testimonies from victims began circulating on social media, drawing attention to the unchecked impunity allegedly exercised by Katungi. The State House Anti-Corruption Unit confirmed that more charges could follow as investigations deepen into a web of criminal activity that may involve more officials.
The crackdown comes as part of a broader government effort to restore accountability in the Environmental Protection Police Unit and reclaim encroached wetlands, many of which have been degraded due to corruption and collusion between rogue officers and unscrupulous developers.
