By Jane Nambi

Umar Katerega, the said ‘witch doctor’ of Kato Kajubi who allegedly instructed him to behead 12-year-old Josephh Kasirye is now a policeman working with the Kazinga police post.

Once a witch doctor, Katerega became a State witness pinning Kajubi for beheading Kasirye which saw him get imprisoned for the murder of the 12-year-old boy for life. At the moment, Katerega is a resident of Bweyogerere in Kiira town Council and attached to the Kiira Division. He also heads operations at Kazinga Post, which is under the Bweyogerere Police station.

However, Police denied reports that Katerega was one of them. “He is not working with us. His testifying as a State witness does not make him a police officer. We did not even know that he lives in Bweyogerere. If he is involved in any criminal activities, we encourage the public to report the cases to us,” Deputy Police publicist Vincent Ssekate said.

An LC official confirmed that Katerega was a Police operative, whose attitude is causing them concern. “We have received complaints that he beats up people. He has been operating a roadblock at night and picking up people and dumping them in the cells.”

In an incident in Namugongo, Katerega allegedly beat a civilian in broad day light into a coma, saying he had jumped police bond. At Kazinga police post, an officer who did not want to be named, said: “He seems to receive his orders from above.”

At the moment, Katerega goes to CIID headquarters in Kibuli weekly, along with his wife Mariam Nabukera, demanding payment for their role in the successful conviction of Kajubi saying his cooperation with police gave him bad publicity. “I was shunned and I am homeless. Where do you expect me to find a job? Police put me through this, so they pay me weekly for my upkeep as I also help them with work,” Katerega said.