Police have confirmed the arrest of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Clive Nsiima Barigye, who was captured on CCTV assaulting a female shop attendant at a Shell fuel station in Kyanja, Kampala.
In the viral video, Nsiima, dressed in civilian clothes is seen abusing the cashier before slapping her twice across the face after she reportedly reminded him to clear an unpaid bill of about Shs30,000.
“I am parking; have you ever driven such a car?” Nsiima is heard saying. “She’s there disturbing me over Shs30,000. Do you think I can run away with Shs100,000? I can slap you even with these cameras here and tomorrow we go to court.”
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke confirmed the officer’s arrest on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “I hereby confirm that he has been arrested.”
His post followed a statement by the Director of Criminal Investigations, AIGP Tom Magambo, who condemned the assault. “My colleagues and I condemn such isolated behaviour. Be assured that an internal investigation is ongoing to guide in further action,” Magambo said.
Nsiima, who is attached to the Counter Terrorism Directorate under the Oil and Gas Protection Unit, is expected to face charges of assault and threatening violence under Sections 235 and 236 of the Penal Code Act, which carry penalties of up to five years in prison.
However, as news of his arrest spread, Ugandans on social media began sharing his alleged history of violent behaviour.
Nsiima, who hails from the Ankole royal family, reportedly has a checkered past. While serving as District Police Commander (DPC) in Hoima, he was transferred after a hit-and-run accident involving a pregnant woman and three others. Whether the victims survived remains unclear.
Those familiar with him describe him as calm when sober but aggressive after drinking. Several accounts claim that he frequently moves with a pistol to bars, which he often brandishes under the influence.
In one recent incident, he allegedly attempted to force his car into a liquor shop in Ntinda and was disarmed by police officers who intervened and took him away.
The latest assault has reignited public anger over police impunity, with many Ugandans demanding accountability and tougher disciplinary action against officers who abuse their authority.