Again, we call on army, police to stop torture

In the full view of the public, plain-clothed men wielding automatic rifles roughed up a citizen in the city on Thursday. Unlike in recent times when such incidents have happened during demonstrations, this time the crowd was taken by surprise.

Accounts of how it all started and why Mr Yusuf Kawooya, a member of Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), the youth wing of the Democratic Party, was so ruthlessly beaten up remain scanty. It is even scarier that for over a day after the incident, the police and army had not provided an explanation of what happened, what had since happened to Mr Kawooya and who the men who acted in the most thuggish way were.

It is possible that there is a genuine reason that necessitated the arrest of Mr Kawooya. But it is a point that has been hammered time and again why an arrest should be carried out illegally. First of all, the men who carried out the arrest did not have a warrant of arrest and did not seem to introduce themselves to Mr Kawooya as personnel with authority to effect an arrest.

Secondly, the vehicle that was used, a commuter taxi with a registration plate which was issued by Uganda Revenue Authority for a vehicle of a different type, does not inspire confidence and suggests that there is something to worry about.
Thirdly, the violence that was meted out on the unarmed citizen who was not even violent but seemed to put genuine questions about his safety to his tormentors was excessive and absolutely unwarranted.

When Inspector General of Police Martins Okoth-Ochola had just ascended to the office early this year, he castigated the practice of policemen effecting arrests in an illegal manner, saying tongue-in-cheek that should the members of the public be faced with a policeman who wants to carry out such an arrest, they should react by stoning them.

Mr Ochola sounded like a breath of fresh air in a situation where citizens’ rights had been so abused by gun-wielding operatives. When what happened on Thursday unfolded, it is conspicuous that Mr Ochola could not step up to reassure the public and order arrest of those involved and full investigation into the matter.

Only two months ago, Chief of Defence Forces Gen David Muhoozi, flanked by Mr Ochola and other Security chiefs, promised that an investigation into the violence in Arua was underway and the perpetrators would be brought to book. He has not reported back to the public since then.
These happenings are shaking the faith of the public in our Security services and must stop.

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