No room for repression, violence in modern democratic Uganda – EU

What you need to know:

  • Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake was not charged but was later dumped at Rubaga Hospital in Kampala on Thursday night by men in military uniform.
  • MPs, lawyers, relatives and friends who visited both MPs Kyagulanyi and Zaake said they were left in critical condition following their torture.

The European Union delegation in Uganda has said they are deeply concerned with the recent inhuman treatment of over 30 people that were arrested in Arua on Monday.

A statement issued by the European Union delegation on Friday, the Heads of Mission of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and UK, and the Heads of Mission of Norway and Iceland equally expressed concern over the events that have occurred before and after the Arua Municipality by-election.

"The violence marring the day before the polls, the lack of accredited domestic observers, the reported brutal treatment of elected Members of the Uganda Parliament, journalists and civilians, as well as the loss of human life are very disquieting events. There is no room for repression nor violence in modern democratic Uganda," a statement reads in part.

The Heads of Mission called upon all tiers of the Ugandan Government, political parties and civil society to cooperate to ensure that the events that have caused much suffering to citizens and have damaged the global image of Uganda are addressed swiftly and transparently with full respect for the Rule of Law, and of the individual rights of all concerned.

The call came a day after more than 30 people arrested in Arua District were charged with treason. They were arrested on Monday following the chaos that dominated the last day of the by-election campaigns to replace the slain Ibrahim Abiriga.

The soldiers, reportedly belonging to President Museveni’s protection force, the Special Forces Command, attacked Mr Kyagulanyi in a hotel, accusing him and other pro-Wadri supporters of being behind the group that were said to have pelted stones at one of the cars in President Museveni’s motorcade.

The army charged a semi-conscious and unresponsive Mr Kyagulanyi on Thursday and later airlifted him from Guru Army barracks to Makindye Military barracks in Kampala.

His co-accused MPs, including Mr Gerald Karuhanga (Ntungamo Municipality), Mr Paul Mwiru (Jinja East), Mr Kassiano Wadri (Arua Municipality MP-elect), former Makindye East Mike Mabikke, and 29 others were charged with treason in Gulu and remanded up to August 30.

Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake was not charged but was later dumped at Rubaga Hospital in Kampala on Thursday night by men in military uniform.

MPs, lawyers, relatives and friends who visited both MPs Kyagulanyi and Zaake said they were left in critical condition following their torture.