A section of Ugandans on social media are irked by socialite Charles Olim alias Sipapa’s impunity as he has allegedly continuously breached traffic rules under what they said security operatives’ watch and protection.
Some netizens claim the controversial socialite and sworn supporter of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party chaired by President Museveni has for the last two months been driving a numberless vehicle guarded by armed soldiers and police.
Celebrated journalist and television/radio personality, Andrew Kyamageero wrote on his Facebook wall:”So Sipapa, driving a car without number plates for now two months in one ways, knocking and threatening civilians in the right lanes has turned out to be his normal way of Operations!”
He added: “Who qualifies to be guarded by Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces soldiers in this country? Because that’s tax payers money. His car has no number plates and keeps abusing road safety regulations and no security organ comes out to condemn this? What is the source of his power welding attitude? Is the Public aware of his antics that every time he messes up with laws he immediately helps those in need immensely and the media covers him for a “Good heart”? Well, wait for a detailed in-depth story about this Sipapa and his contacts who have always hidden behind the monies he offers them.”
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A tweep with username, @RonnieMcVex wrote: “So there’s this car that keeps driving recklessly, no number plates and is escorted by officers in uniform. Allegedly it belongs to the famous SIPAPA. Recently at Kiira road lights, the car was driving in the wrong lane, almost knocked Rav4 that was driving in the right lane.”
Another tweep in the names of @eric_katamba tagged police and said: “@PoliceUg this man has been driving that black numberless Land Cruiser v8 for two months now and this is not his first time knocking someone. Please do something.”
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One Ben claimed he was knocked by the socialite’s speeding car and threatened to shoot him.
“Hello @Akasingye (AIPG Asan Kasingye is the police Chief Political Commissar), @PoliceUg Kindly help. A one SIPAPA driving a numberless black cruiser VX V8, driving in a wrong line!! Knocked me and because he was armed and also had armed UPDF soldiers in the car, threatened to shoot me because I am inferior and drove off,” Ben tweeted on March 11 under username, @benJastt.
Our efforts to get a comment from the socialite failed as our repeated phone calls to his known telephone number went unanswered.
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However, a day after he allegedly knocked Ben, the socialite posted on his social media platform saying “What has kept me successful for all of this time is because I usually see some things as barking dogs, If you spend time beating them, you end up caught by time. Therefore, if you also want to be successful in life, let the barking dogs bark.”
Police are yet to issue an official statement, although Mr Kasingye had promised to follow up on the matter.
However, this is not the first time, Sipapa, who some Ugandans believe is untouchable, even by police, is being dragged into controversy.
In September 2020, two men moving with Sipapa in the same vehicle are said to have opened fire when a group of People Power supporters confronted them shortly after parking in front of the premises of Fred Nyanzi, the elder brother of Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, then a presidential aspirant and hprincipal of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
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Sipapa was driving a Super Custom vehicle registration number, UBE 229E and the youth allegedly broke his windscreen, prompting two men who were driving with him to fire in the air and at the shops.
One Muzafaru Nyombi, who sustained a broken leg and wounded eye in the incident, said the same group returned at night and pounced on him as he was planning to return home. They reportedly accused him of being one of the people who attacked Sipapa during the day.
The Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango then said Sipapa was summoned for questioning.
“This is not the first time Sipapa has attacked NUP offices in Kamwokya. His first attack was on August 30 and the recent one of September 15,” Onyango told journalists then.
Sipapa was never arrested nor prosecuted in court.
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In 2018, the socialite was accused by his then girlfriend, Brown Shugar, of assault and domestic violence.
She dragged him to police but the case ended prematurely as he was never arrested or prosecuted in court.
In what some people have claimed to be public PR to cover up his transgressions, Sipapa, early this year became the talk of entertainment media when he jumped in to help 19-year-old Fiona Rukundo and her family following a car accident she was involved in.
Rukundo and three others were on December 30, 2021 knocked by a speeding army car (H4DF 2490- Toyota Land Cruiser) attached to State House in Gomba. She sustained several injuries including losing an arm. However, one of the victims of the accident died.
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