By Frank Kamuntu
A team of prominent Ugandan lawyers and human rights activists have unveiled measures they say will help to end torture in Uganda and ensure that all victims get justice.
This was revealed during a meeting held Thursday at Emerald Hotel in Kampala, between lawyers of prominent Law firm Kiiza & Company advocates with a group of joint advocates and several people who were tortured during the reign of Gen. Kale Kayihura as Inspector General of Police.
During the same meeting the lawyers launched a book titled ‘Speak Out For Torture Black Book’, in which they will register all victims of torture by Uganda police, most especially those tortured during Kayihura’s regime.
A joint group of advocates and activists led by Alternative Uganda, Poor Youth, Jobless Brotherhood, Red Top, among others compiled a report on torture during Kayihura’s reign, which was accompanied with a slogan “Every person wherever you are, you will carry your own cross!”
Faridah Bikobere, the spokesperson Alternative Uganda, read a report appreciating USA for being an overseer of African enemies who use their power to torture innocent citizens.
He said “As joint lawyers and human rights activists we will keep behind all US government plans to end torture in Uganda.”
Herbert Mayanja, the National co-ordinator Jobless Brotherhood, appreciated the USA embassy in Uganda for implementing sanctions on Pius Bigirimana and other judicial officials plus Kayihura, saying this could be one of the ways to end corruption, because according to him, research shows that these people have been bribing Ugandan money and invest it in Foreign countries but once sanctioned that will end.
The report hailed Uganda Human Rights Network For journalists, Human Rights Watch and other NGO’s for fighting for journalists who have been severally tortured security apparatus.
However, the report suggested that President Yoweri Museveni should reshuffle the police once again because the people he replaced with Kayihura were the perpetrators of what the former IGP did.
In the report, various requests were made:
1. Sanctions should be placed on someone still in office like Bigirimana but not after leaving office because that’s the one way criminals will be brought to justice.
2, All assets possessed by these officials in foreign countries should be confiscated by USA government, sold and money sent back to Families of victims tortured in Uganda,
3, Investigations made by USA government be given to Ugandan lawyers to be used in Ugandan courts to get more officials with same acts,
4,All Victims tortured most especial by Boda Boda 2010 to come and register in their black book so as to be helped in filling their cases and offered free legal assistance by professional lawyers,
Spy Uganda talked to some victims who had come to register their details in black book so as to be helped and among these were Mr Mutesa Kafero Charles who is the chairman Red top who revealed that he was tortured in Nalufenya because he was fighting for free and fare elections in 2016 and currently his right arm bones were broken and his spinal cord affected due to an impossible torture imposed on him,
Edirisa Mutebi, a Nansana resident who shed tears while speaking, said he was tortured by Herbert Muhangi with a one Kimbowa, who was a suspected boda-boda thief.
He said “We were tortured while being forced to accept that we assassinated AIGP Andrew Felix Kawesi. But we were later released without any charges.”
He added that now he can no longer perform any sexual activity or do any job for a living and fears for his life.
Later the black book was launched by a team of advocates including Faridah Bigomire (Spokesperson Alternative Uganda), Ayine Keneth ((Kiiza and Mugisha company advocates),Sempara Zayid (spokes person Jobless Brotherhood), Norman Tumuhimbise (National Co-ordinator alternative), Mayanja Robert(Co-ordinator Jobless brotherhood) and Mukuri Sad(Legal Advisor Alternative).
