KAMPALA.The Kampala City Hall Court has released on bail the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Clive Nsiima, the officer captured in a viral video slapping a fuel station shop attendant in Kyanja, a Kampala suburb after being reminded to pay for items worth Shs30,000.
Presiding Grade One Magistrate Nicholas Aisu granted Nsiima bail at Shs1 million, while his three sureties were each bonded at Shs5 million to ensure his return to court for trial.
“The accused still enjoys the right to the presumption of innocence as he has not pleaded guilty. He has presented substantial sureties, and there is no record showing he has ever jumped bail or has other pending charges,” Magistrate Aisu ruled.
The court noted that despite the public outrage triggered by the viral video, the law presumes every accused person innocent until proven guilty.
Nsiima was arraigned before the same court earlier this week and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and malicious damage to property. He is accused of assaulting Pellan Atumuhuriize, a supermarket attendant at a Kyanja Shell filling station, and damaging her mobile phone.
According to the prosecution, led by State Attorney Mercy Yamangusho, the officer, attached to the Counter Terrorism Directorate, Oil and Gas Department, allegedly committed the offense on October 7, 2025.
“The accused willfully and unlawfully assaulted the complainant before damaging her mobile smartphone,” Ms. Yamangusho stated.
The prosecution had strongly opposed bail, arguing that the officer’s conduct was unbecoming of someone mandated to protect the public.
“The accused is a police officer whose duty is to protect the public, not assault them. His actions are disgraceful and have caused public outrage,” Ms. Yamangusho told the court.
However, defense counsel Hamza Kyamanywa urged the court to grant his client bail, saying the accused had reconciled with the complainant and had fulfilled all legal requirements for temporary release.
“The accused has reconciled with the complainant and has presented responsible sureties. He is presumed innocent and should not be detained further,” Mr. Kyamanywa submitted.
Magistrate Aisu, while acknowledging the reconciliation claim, said no formal agreement or supporting evidence had been filed in court. Nonetheless, he found that Nsiima met the conditions for bail.
“Even though his actions went viral on social media, there is no evidence that he poses a flight risk or has any other pending cases,” the magistrate ruled.
Nsiima, a resident of Kyanja, pleaded not guilty to the charges. He will now await trial from home following his release.
On 6th October 2025, a video circulated on social media showing Nsiima assaulting a female attendant at a Shell fuel station. Following this, Nsiima was apprehended and detained in police custody.
He appeared before the Police Disciplinary Court on Tuesday, 7th October, and again on Friday, 10th October, where he was charged with behaving in a scandalous manner.
The court recommended a sentence of dismissal from the Uganda Police Force, which has since been upheld by police management