DP accuses UPDF of hiding genuine torture suspects
The soldiers who pleaded guilty to brutalising Mr Kawooya last week. Mr Mao says the genuine suspects have not been charged. File photo
KAMPALA-Opposition Democratic Party (DP) has accused the army of engaging in a massive cover-up by parading fake soldiers who purportedly brutalised Mr Yusuf Kawooya last week.
DP officials say the men who were paraded before the Army Disciplinary Unit are the not the “genuine” soldiers who were captured in a video while brutalising Mr Kawooya in Kampala.
Mr Kawooya, is a member of Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), the youth wing of DP.
While appearing before the Mbuya-based UPDF Unit Disciplinary Court, chaired by Col. Tom Kabuye, the five soldiers pleaded guilty to unprofessional conduct while arresting Mr Kawooya on October 18.
They claimed that Mr Kawooya was violent and asked court for a lenient sentence for the offence, which, under the UPDF Act, is punishable by dismissal.
Speaking to journalists in Kampala on Tuesday, DP President, Mr Norbert Mao demanded the production and prosecution of “genuine suspects.”
He said the fake suspects were charged in order to deceive and mislead the public.
“After reviewing both videos thoroughly, our expert is concerned about the man in checked shirt whom they claimed was the same man in the video. The physic of these two men are not matching. We have seen anomalies, Mr Mao said.
He also demanded the production of Mr Kawooya in court because he has already been in detention for more than the forty eight hours prescribed by the Constitution.
“We demand he should be produced before the competent court or be released immediately,” Mr Mao said.
