Activists warn police, prisons against torture
A plain-clothed detective (R) drags Mr Bright Mbabazi, Amama Mbabazi’s supporter, to Mbarara Central Police Station on Monday. PHOTO BY RAJAB MUKOMBOZI
Kampala. Activists have warned police and politicians to desist from inflicting harm on citizens during campaigns because it is a violation of the law.
The group, which included officials from the European Union, psychiatrists and prisons staff said it was disregard of its cardinal duty for the police to turn against people whose rights they are mandated to protect.
Mr Moses Musaazi, the board chairman of African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTV), said their legal team was ready to help anyone who seeks redress from courts of law using the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act.
“Torturing people during elections is against the law and violates the rights of people to vote genuine and competent leaders. We shall use our legal team to hold accountable any police officer or a politician who will use threats, intimidations or torture against the electorates before, during and after elections,” Mr Musaazi said.
He made the remarks at the closing ceremony of a one-year training programme for medical and legal staff of ACTV on mental health capacity building in Kampala yesterday.
The training was conducted by Independent Medical-Legal Unit in Kenya and Centre for Victims of Torture in USA, including European Union.
The warning comes at the time when the mood for the 2016 general election has gained momentum after the declaration by former prime minister Amama Mbabazi to contest against his former boss, President Museveni.
Mr Phillip Kateeba, the programme manager at ACTV, said about 30 per cent of inmates they interacted with at Luzira, Kigo, Mbarara and Bushenyi cells had mental-related problems such as anxiety, trauma, fear and depression, which might have resulted from brutal arrests and handling in cells.
This, they say, hinders inmates from reforming while in prison and instead avenge those who might have led to their imprisonment once they are released.
Dr Margaret Mungherera, a psychiatrist at Mulago and former president of World Medical Association, urged government to establish several psychological centres around the country.
The numbers
1,200-1,400
Estimated cases of torture received by ACTV at their centres in Kamwokya, Kampala and Gulu annually, according to the body’s executive officer, Mr Samuel Herbert Nsubuga.
