MPs to visit infamous Nalufenya police detention centre

MPs during plenary session chaired by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga. Photo by Dominic Bukenya

What you need to know:

  • The now infamous centre has attracted widespread criticism from sections of the civil society, Human Rights groups as well as politicians and religious leaders.
  • The Uganda Prisons Services have since distanced themselves from the management of Nalufenya and condemned the scenes of torture reported in the media.

PARLIAMENT: The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has instructed the committee on Human Rights to visit and examine the state of Nalufenya, a famous police detention centre.
The Speaker’s directive on Wednesday follows gruesome incidents of torture faced by suspects detained at the camp.

“Since matters of Human Rights are of prime importance, am directing the committee on Human Rights to proceed to Nalufenya, examine the facility and give us a report,” she said.
Parliament was expected to receive a statement from the ministry of Internal Affairs to inform comprehensive debate on the 2016 Reports of the Human Rights Commission which ranked police highly, regarding abuse of citizen’s rights.
None of the line ministers, however, was in the House prompting the Speaker’s decision.

“This debate was deferred from Tuesday because we wanted to get the response from the minister of internal affairs such that we debate the matter comprehensively,” said Kadaga.
Nalufenya, a police detention camp is renown of handling high criminal cases, linked to gruesome murder, terrorism and war crimes among others.
The now infamous centre has attracted widespread criticism from sections of the civil society, Human Rights groups as well as politicians and religious leaders.
The most recent developments include the torture of Mr Geoffrey Byamukama, the Kamwenge District mayor and other suspects linked to the murder of AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi, a former police spokesperson.

The committee will among other things seek to examine the Status of Nalufenya which falls between a police cell and a prison unit.
President Museveni on Tuesday this week wrote to State Security organs, cautioning them against use of torture in gathering evidence.
The president said that the use of torture does not guarantee reliable confessions.
The Uganda Prisons Services have since distanced themselves from the management of Nalufenya and condemned the scenes of torture reported in the media.