Ingrid Turinawe’s breasts have finally paid off.
Turinawe is the leader of Women’s League in the main opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
The High in Kampala has today ordered government to pay the politician Shs170 million , with a six percent interest and costs of the suit, in which she sued the Attorney General and Police for manhandling and squeezing of her breasts in Walk to Work campaign in 2012.
Justice Magret Oumo Oguli ruled that Turinawe deserved to be compensated for the arbitrary acts of the said Police officers that tortured and humiliated her. However, she declined to award damages for her (Turinawe)’s vandalised car saying there was no proof that it was damaged.
After the order, Turinawe said the ruling has set a precedent and sent a message to the would-be offenders in future not to infringe on anyone’s fundamental rights enshrined in Uganda’s Constitution.
In 2014, government through its lawyer/state attorney, George Kalemeera said the incident was unfortunate and embarrassing to Turinawe and asked the High Court to allow it settle the case amicably.
“It was unfortunate incident which we regret and we would prefer an out of court settlement,” he said.
Turinawe through her lawyer Ladislaus Rwakafuzi sued the then Police Director of Operations the late Andrew Felix Kaweesi and the Attorney General Peter Nyombi seeking Shs560 million as compensation for damages to atone for the embarrassment and also orders directing the defendants to identify and produce before court the male police officer who squeezed her breast
Court documents indicated that on the fateful day of April 20, 2012, as she was driving to Nansana town council to attend a political rally by various opposition leaders, police intercepted her and in the process of arguing, a male police officer forcefully grabbed her left breast with all bitterness and hostility.
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