‘Stop torture of Ugandans’

Ugandan Chief Justice Bart Katureebe has warned the country’s security agencies against taking injured suspects to court, stating that Uganda’s 1995 constitution prohibits torture, Ugandas Daily Monitor reported yesterday.

“Security forces, when you are arresting Ugandans, arrest them like humans not animals. We do not want to bring people to court while bleeding, unable to walk, sick, because those people belong in the hospital, not court,” said Katureebe.

The judge’s comments follow the abuse and ill-treatment of opposition activists during the by-election campaign in Arua on August 13.

During clashes between opposition activists and security forces, the motorcade of President Yoweri Museveni was stoned.

Security forces shot dead the driver for singer and prominent Museveni critic, MP Robert Kyagulani, aka Bobi Wine, during the clashes.

Wine was later arrested, allegedly beaten during his incarceration and charged with treason. He was also prevented from leaving the country on Thursday when he tried to fly to the US.

During the Arua clashes, 33 opposition activists were also arrested by police and Special Forces soldiers and charged with treason – charges which were later dropped against many of them.

Following the allegations of torture, Katureebe said he had written to the minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs on August 17 to have the allegations investigated, saying action would be taken against those found guilty of torturing detainees.

Security forces, when you are arresting Ugandans, arrest them like humans not animals. Bart Katureebe Ugandan Chief Justice