Earlier today, ASP Muhammad Kirumira the former police commander for Buyende district was granted bail, following various attempts to have him released.
Though Kirumira’s releases was constrained by strict conditions put by the disciplinary court including getting an officer on a rank higher than him to stand as his surety as well as reporting on daily basis to professional standards unit, his release was enabled by assistant commissioner of police Sam Omara who has accepted to stand as his surety.
Kirumira who has been struggling with cases including extortion of money as well as torturing suspects was also asked to report back to the same court on 26th this month.
Who is Sam Omara, the man who stood by the embattled Kirumira during the darkest time of his duty?
Sam Omara was born in Tororo 53 years ago. He resides in Kampala with a family of 13 children and over 10 grandchildren.
Omara joined the police in 1980 at the rank of constable and has risen through the ranks. He has commanded five divisions, taking charge of areas like Old Kampala, Wandegeya, Kawempe, Kasangati, Wakiso, Nsangi, Buloba and Kakiri.
Omar is popularly known as the tamer of the opposition and a national anti-riot chief the 2011 opposition-led walk-to-work protests. He was also in charge of the tightly-guarded Butaleja by-elections, where some politicians were arrested for causing chaos.
Omara then became the regional operations commander for Kampala Metropolitan North and had full command of a unit that dealt with Dr Kizza Besigye, the then leader of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change, the initiator of the riots.
His mission is to follow the law, arrest anybody who disturbs the peace in the city and suppress politicians who misuse constitutional rights.
Omala, now at the rank of senior superintendent, sits at Kawempe police station. He is quoted to have said that “he does not negotiate or discuss directives”.
