Police have launched a probe against 11 of its police officers accused of beating and torturing Buvuma District Woman Member of Parliament Susan Nakaziba Mugabi. The Inspector General of Police, Martin Ochola, has tasked the force’s Professional Standards Unit (PSU) to ensure that any officer who manhandled MP Nakaziba and her supporters is arrested and prosecuted. P/Courtesy of SCP Fred Enanga
Nakaziba and her supporters were teargassed and beaten on April 19, 2023 as she had organised an event to celebrate women’s day. The ugly scenes were captured by locals and shared on social media after the journalists were forced to delete all the pictures.
Senior Commissioner of Police -SCP Fred Enanga, who is also the police spokesperson, has identified the police officers under probe as SP Kanyesigye Jamal the deputy Ssezibwa regional police commander, SP Bagoole Michael – the DPC Buvuma, and AIP Odeke Franci.
Others waiting to be prosecuted include CPL Wamanga David, PC Obalim, PC Turyahebwa Akim, PC Ahamize Brave, PC Olari Albert John, PC Egwel Peter Aggrey, PC Kabaheka Benson, and PC Makomeli Emma Kevin.
It is not yet clear whether PSU will charge the officers in the force’s disciplinary court or they will be arraigned in the criminal court since torture is a crime against the state. Nakaziba and her supporters were accused of holding an unlawful assembly, at Kyanja village, Bweema sub-county in Buvuma district.
Enanga also emphasized that the MP and her supporters had defied the guidelines from the district security committees, following disagreements between Buvuma Women’s Council and the legislator.
“As a result, the district security team dispersed the unlawful gathering and also arrested 4 suspects. However, some of the officers aggressively man-handling the protesters,” Enanga said.
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He added that: “As soon as the video came to the attention of the IGP, he immediately ordered the PSU to institute inquiries and ensure officers who committed acts of violence are held accountable.”
Ochola has reminded police officers that the UPF he superintends does not condone misconduct and as an institution they continue to stand for the rule of law and will hold any one who commits acts of torture accountable.
Uganda police and military have always emerged top on the list of human rights violators. The most victimized people by police and military are people from the opposition. Legislators and key opposition politicians like Dr Kizza Besigye and Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi have on several occasions been beaten, pepper sprayed and detained without trails for several days and sometime months.