Police have arrested Mercy Timbitwire Bashisha, the woman captured in a viral video assaulting a traffic policeman and threatening to have him lose his job. According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kituuma Rusoke, the arrest follows an incident in which Bashisha became violent toward the officer after being signaled to stop.
In the video, Bashisha is heard shouting at the officer, “Let me get the number. This is a government uniform. Leave my phone. Why do you break my phone? Are you supposed to touch me? Am I your wife? Why are you taking my number plate?” She also physically assaults the officer, who eventually walks away after removing her vehicle’s number plate. Another woman can be seen supporting Bashisha, urging the policeman to leave her alone.
Several onlookers, mostly men, are heard criticizing Bashisha’s actions, questioning why she resorted to violence rather than cooperating with the officer. Rusoke explained that the incident began at around 11:55 a.m. on Jinja Road when Bashisha, driving a Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number UBM 439T, caused a minor traffic accident. Despite being signaled to stop, she continued driving while speaking on her phone. The officer followed her to the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) premises, where she eventually parked her vehicle.
“Despite his signals, the motorist refused to stop and continued driving while using her phone. After catching up at Lugogo traffic lights, it is alleged that she parked at UMA and locked her vehicle. Our officer asked for her driving permit, and she is said to have resorted to intimidation,” ACP Rusoke said. Bashisha is also reported to have confiscated the officer’s EPS gadget and two of his phones. “She is currently under detention as investigations are being conducted,” Rusoke added.
Pastor Kayanja Asks Court to Give Deterrent Punishments to His Accusers
This incident adds to a list of assaults on traffic officers in Uganda. In 2022, Constable Robert Mukebezi was shot and later had his leg amputated after an encounter with a soldier attached to the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) in Ntinda while trying to impound an Army vehicle involved in a crash. Similarly, in 2020, the late Maj Gen Paul Lokech assaulted Kira Division Traffic Police Commander, Ruth Kobutungy, along the Kireka-Namugongo road. The police have called on the public to respect traffic officers and comply with traffic laws, warning that such assaults will not be tolerated.
Mt. St. Mary’s Namagunga Tops Financial Literacy Debate, to Represent Uganda in Global Debate