Yoweri Museveni, speaking on Saturday about the country’s security status, cautioned security forces against beating and torturing detained suspects.
The President of the country, Yoweri Museveni, delivered a speech on Saturday about the security state of the nation in which he warned security personnel to stop beating and torturing detained suspects.
Museveni said one of the main reasons why NRM went to the bush was to seek equality and fight against human rights abuse.
As a result, he told his officers that they should be exemplary and not beat or mistreat anyone they arrest on suspicion of doing wrong.
“Nobody should be in the uniform of the army when they don’t respect the people of Uganda. When you’re in the army don’t bark at people, don’t beat people or even criminals. Don’t beat children. Nobody should beat any Ugandan. Human rights of the people of Uganda were one of main reasons why NRM went to bush and fought for all those years.”
“Every soldier and policeman listening to me and any Ugandan should know that is the position of the NRA and Constitution of Uganda. No one should be in the uniform of the army if you can’t respect the people of Uganda. Don’t bark at people. That is not a people’s army. Don’t beat members of the public or even criminals. You are not allowed to beat anyone,” Museveni said.
He suggested that the (suspects) should rather be interrogated but even when they fail to admit to the wrongdoing, proper investigations can be done to determine whether they are guilty or not.
The president who was quick to display footage captured by media in which the Gen Katumba shooting suspects told the court that they had been tortured while in police detention in addition said how it was done was very unnecessary.
”Why do you beat a suspect? Is it because you are too lazy to interrogate him? Of course these are criminals. The police had done a wonderful job to very well get these people but why spoil it with this nonsense of beating. Even if suspects don’t admit guilt but investigators do their job well, criminals can get convicted.”
“It is totally unnecessary. Why do you beat people? Just chase them and they go,” he added warning security against rough handling of the public while enforcing Covid Standard Operating Procedures.
Going further, the president also raised that arrested criminals should not be kept for long hours in police custody without trial because it is unacceptable against the law.
“Keeping people in jail for a long period without trial is also not allowed. The idea of safe custody is wrong. Jails are not stores for people. Deporting foreigners without trial should be stopped. Anybody should be handled legally because those loopholes can be used to abuse rights of people but also disadvantage the country,” Museveni raised.
