Photos of allegedly tortured and disfigured Ali Buken alias Nubian Lee, a music partner of music star and presidential, Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, have locked social media platforms in Uganda.
Nubian Lee, who has been Bobi Wine’s music partner for more than a decade was arrested alongside 90 other members of National Unity Platform- NUP during their campaign trail in the islands of Kalangala District.
It is more than 48 hours since the group that include personal bodyguards of Bobi Wine but the suspects have not been presented in court. Military and police have denied lawyers and relatives access to the accused.
Pictures of allegedly brutalized and hospitalized Nubian Lee and Edward Ssebuufu alias Eddie Mutwe, the leading personal bodyguard to Bobi Wine emerged on social media on Saturday causing panic among family members and relatives.
Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, in a statement refuted the torture allegations insisting that Nubian Lee and Eddie Mutwe are not being held in military custody but police cells in Masaka City.
Enanga said the pictured of tortured Nubian Lee and Eddie Mutwe are intended to taint the image of police force. “We would like to disprove these sickening allegations by sharing images of the two suspects, that were obtained today while lifting their fingerprints. It is a lawful procedure undertaken when suspects are being processed for court and for future criminal record purposes,” Enanga said.
Uganda police force has been on spot over the years for torturing suspects especially those detained at Special Investigations Unit –SIU and dreaded Nalufenya police station in Jinja District.
Enanga said as police they are committed to observing the rights of all suspects, even when in custody. Police also threatened that its Cyber Crime unit had taken interest in the FAKE posting and would ensure the culprits are identified and brought to justice.
Police on Thursday issued a statement claiming that the 90 people who were Bobi Wine crew members were arrested because of their continued acts of impunity and lawlessness, during the political campaign.
Enanga added that the group was arrested by joint task team of investigators, comprising of CCTV analysts, cybercrime, intelligence and CID experts who are thoroughly interviewing the suspects.
“A total of 90 suspects who formed part of the violent mobile teams from Kampala, were on the 30.12.2020, arrested and transferred to the Region at Greater Masaka, where statements were recorded from them, on allegations of incitement to violence, disobedience of lawful orders, inconsiderate use of the roads, and negligently doing acts likely to spread an infectious disease,” Enanga said.
Enanga alleged that the group of suspects associated to NUP, have been working falsely as a parallel but illegal government and actively involved in acts of intimidation and lawlessness across different parts of the country.
The police mouthpiece insists that operation therefore, was aimed at keeping all Ugandans safe and to help eliminate all continuous acts of impunity, lawlessness and political violence, during the ongoing campaigns and electoral events.