KAMPALA
The National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate for the Kawempe North by-election, lawyer Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola has sued the government over alleged torture and illegal detention by security operatives.
In a lawsuit filed in the High Court’s Civil Division, Nalukoola accuses the Joint Anti-Terrorist Unit (JATT) of inhumanely torturing him shortly after his nomination on February 26.
It should be recalled that armed JAT wearing face masks and hooded black police attire on February 26, 2025, arrested and brutally tortured Nalukoola, and his campaign team for yet to know reasons. This was after he was nominated for Kawempe North MP by-election. During the scuffle, a Top Television journalist, Miracle Ibrah was severely injured on the left eye a life time injury which doctors say might affect his vision.
According to Nalukoola, he was violently arrested by unidentified and hooded JAT officers dressed in black police attires who thrown him to the ground, flogged, stripped and beaten him using cable wires in attempt to sabotage his political ambitions.
“The wanton beating, flogging, and deliberate infliction of severe pain infringed on my fundamental human rights,” he said.
He also highlighted the illegal detention without trial at Kawempe police station and denial to access medical care which he claims are a violation of his rights.
Nalukkola now demands compensation in damages, medical and psychological rehabilitation and a public apology from the government, and assurances of non-repetition of these actions.
Cases of human rights violations and electoral violence in Uganda have been strongly condemned by many political actors, religious leaders and human rights defenders. Many have urged the government to reconsider holding elections if it is unwilling to allow fair competition from opposition parties.
Presiding over mass to mark the 28th Anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima Queen of Peace cathedral in Luweero town on March 2, the Archbishop of Kampala, His Grace Rt. Rev. Paul Ssemogerere challenged the government to allow fair political competition arguing that there would rather be no electios than have ones marred by violence.
By Press time, the High Court had not set daates for hearing of this case.
