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| Blogger Ashburg Kato. FB photo |
By Leonard Kamugisha, Babrah Nahwera and Amani Sumaya.
Police has today 8th May, 2019, issued a statement condemning sections of political actors for circulating public photo alleging police to have brutally tortured on the reknown political activist and self styled blogger Ashburg Kato.
Over the last week, photos and videos of a black man being tortured by armed men alleging it was Ashbury went viral on social media something that had prompted police to release a statement on the matter.
According to a police statement signed by Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, as signed today, police denied that the circulating photo is not for the reknown blogger but rather has its origin from the Libyan local slave market.
” We strongly condemn the curculation of a photo of which was established to be an image of black man torture in an informal Libyan slave market…” Excerpts of the statement reads.
Police further claimed that the circulation is smear campaign by some political actors meant to put the reputation of police and sister agencies in disrepute. However, its not yet clear who the actors are since police didn’t reveal to The Parrots their particulars.
” These are the tactics being used by selected political actors to make it appear there us a breakdown on rule of law in the country,” reads the statement.
Ashburg was reportedly to have went missing on 2nd May, as he prepared to go and cover Bobi Wine’s case hearing at Buganda Road Court magistrate, relatives accused police of detaining their person in their custody but police denied accusations.
According to relatives, Ashraf Katto was first summoned by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) a week before in regard to his Ghetto TV an online channel which UCC accuses of inciting violence by broadcasting live proceedings every time Bobi Wine encounters the Police.
Police earlier denied accusations that Ashburg was detained in their custody and promised to look into the matters.
“We have no idea about Katto’s alleged disappearance and disregarded the rumours that he is under Police custody. However, Police is going to start investigations [into the alleged] kidnapped and where he could be,” said Fred Enanga, Police Spokesperson at Police HeadQuarters in Naguru on Monday 6th May,2019.
Police has also asked political actors to adopt strategies that are holistic and consistent to mature politics.
