Legislators condemn police brutality

Mr Muwanga Kivumbi, the Butambala MP, addresses Parliament yesterday. Photos BY ERIC DOMINIC BUKENYA

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On the spot. Mr Muwanga Kivumbi accuses Gen Kayihura of masterminding the creation of militia groups, saying they operate with the backing of police to break havoc.

Kampala. Parliament yesterday evening passed an Opposition motion supported by government, condemning the brutality meted out by police to Dr Kizza Besigye’s supporters.
Shadow internal affairs minister Muwanga Kivumbi moved the motion but after an intense debate, the House agreed and the Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, directed the State minister of Finance for Planning, Mr David Bahati, to announce government support for the motion.
Mr Kivumbi singled out the Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, Kampala Metropolitan Police Operations commander James Ruhweza and Central Police Station division commander Aaron Baguma as the brains behind the upsurge in police brutality on Opposition supporters.

Mr Kivumbi accused Gen Kayihura of masterminding the creation of militia groups, saying they operate with the backing of police to wreak havoc.
“Those that are supposed to enforce the law must be the first people to respect the law. But the people who are supposed to protect the law are the first to offend it. The IGP is not above the law. Every directive he makes must be within the law,” he said.
The Butambala MP also tabled sanctions from the Director of Public Prosecutions calling for murder charges against ASP Aaron Baguma over the death of businesswoman Dora Betty Katusabe.

Shadow attorney general Winfred Niwagaba promised to pursue the pin-pointed senior officers in court, casting doubt on the on-going police trial of its own officers.
“The most degrading action is being beaten. One of the cardinal principles of the law is presumption of innocence. So even if a person is participating in a demonstration, he/she is presumed innocent. But what we are seeing is police meting out punishment to the innocent,” Mr Niwagaba said.
Soroti Woman MP Angelline Osege warned that the conduct of the police risks sending the country to the verge of “genocide”, saying the accused police officers hail from one region of the country.

“If anything triggers a fight in this country, there will be a genocide because people are saying that people from the other side are the ones leading [police brutality] and there is nothing done. Having come from the military, I wonder whether Kayihura went through another reorientation in his training to become a police officer,” Ms Osege said.
However, the State Minister for Internal Affairs, Mr Mario Obiga Kania, tried to solicit sympathy by referring to the 2012 death of AIP John Bosco Ariong after a Dr Besiege led-road tour in downtown Kampala turned chaotic.

Despite admitting “mistakes” by the police in handling of Dr Besigye’s supporters, Mr Kania said the crowds that clashed with police two weeks ago were not spontaneous but pre-planned “illegal processions”.
“They were organised. They fuelled boda bodas to advance the defiance campaign,” he said.
Security minister Henry Tumukunde denied attending a national security committee meeting that authorised the use of whipping, but warned of more “mistakes” on the part of the police.
“We shall continue to have mistakes if a small police force composed of young people recruited because of need and are expected to take on serious pressure,” Gen Tumukunde said.

REACTION

“Police action is the end result. There is what provokes the action. It is defiance that provokes police. But I agree with the minister that the police can do better,” Ruhakana Rugunda, premier

“The Police Force of any nation depicts the culture of the nation. You cannot tell me to go and arrest a cattle rustler using handcuffs,” Pecos Kutesa (UPDF MP)

“This provocation is what must not be condoned. The police have been provoked and we cannot condone this. Defiance will be answered by defiance,” Moses Kizige (Bugabula South).