By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
PARROTS UG | HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT:
The Inspector General of Police, Martins Okoth Ochola has vowed to arrest and punish all police officers involved in acts of torture and other forms of abuses against Ugandans.
“I pledge to continue reviewing our efforts to ensure appropriate guidelines on the use of force and authority are respected. And further ensure that all perpetrators of torture and other forms of physical, mental and psychological abuse by police officers are punished,” Ochola vowed.
According to apress statement issued on Monday, August 16,2021, which Parrots UG has seen, the IGP denounced torture in the police institution stressing that police will ensure effective implementation of laws on Anti-Torture and Human Rights Enforcement laws to protect Ugandans from torture.
“I retaliate that torture is categorically denounced as a matter of policy in police,”
“There is no justification whatsoever under any circumstances or orders from from a superior officer or public authority for torture.” Ochola said.
He further ordered the directorate of Human rights and legal service enforcing the Anti-Torture Act,2012 and Human Rights Act, to produce a list of all police officers who have previously been prosecuted on allegations of human torture.
“I have tasked the directorate of Human rights and legal service enforcing the Anti-Torture Act,2012 and Human Rights Act, that permit criminal prosecution of Police officers who wilfully deprive individuals and groups of their rights and freedom to come up with a list of all police officers prosecuted,” he said.
Ochola’s remarks follow President Museveni’s address on Saturday where he strongly condemned the continued use of torture by security agencies.
I n his address, President Museveni warned security personnel against use of excessive force, arbitrary detentions without trial and, torture of suspects to confess guilty or get information from them.
“Don’t bark at people that are not a people’s army, don’t beat people even criminals you are not allowed to beat anybody, not even the children. There shouldn’t be any killing of Ugandans for any reason other than during fighting,”
Why do you beat a prisoner because you are too lazy to interrogate him. These are criminals, the torture was bad but the mistake they did was bigger, they killed our children but these confused people are damaging the good job done by the police and now they spoil it with the beating,” Museveni said.
Cases of torture and violations of human rights in uganda are on rise and courts are backlogged with cases of torture against journalists, political activists and other members of the public by police and military but to the public dismay, perpetrators of these tortures have not been prosecuted.
Courtesy photos.
