Police Commander Who Ordered Torture, Assaults & Arrests On Kizza Besigye Finally Seeks Forgiveness

Retired Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sam Omala, a name once synonymous with iron-fisted law enforcement, has made a heartfelt plea for forgiveness from his hospital bed.

According to NTV UGANDA journalist, Sudhir Byaruhanga, Omala, now bedridden, has publicly sought reconciliation for his controversial role in one of Uganda's most heated political standoffs, the infamous "Walk-to-Work" protests.

Speaking with notable emotion and clarity despite his weakened state, Omala admitted to leading the police operation that kept opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye confined to his Kasangati home during the protests in 2011.

The protests, which rallied against escalating fuel prices and economic hardship, gripped the nation and cemented Omala's reputation as a polarizing figure of state authority.

“I was a man on duty, but I am also a man with a conscience,” Omala reportedly said from his hospital bed, surrounded by family and friends. “I realize now that my actions may have caused pain. I ask anyone I wronged, directly or indirectly, to find it in their hearts to forgive me.”

Omala’s operation was a textbook display of logistical precision and an iron will. For weeks, his team of officers encircled Besigye’s Kasangati residence, effectively transforming it into an impenetrable fortress.

Reports at the time described Omala as "unyielding" and "unwavering," with some saying his command bordered on the theatrical. He would famously declare, "Not even a fly will escape Kasangati on my watch!"

Omala's crackdown was met with widespread criticism from human rights organizations, but he remained unapologetic for years. Now, however, his tone has softened.

“It is not easy to revisit those moments, but life has a way of humbling you. I acted in line with my duty, but I now see how such actions have lasting effects,” he said.

While some view his appeal as a genuine act of repentance, skeptics have questioned its timing, pointing to his declining health as a possible factor.

For now, Uganda waits to see whether forgiveness will be extended to the man whose name, once a symbol of state control, now seeks solace in the mercy of those he policed.