
The Parliament created an Ad Hoc Report by the 10th Parliament, as Members of Parliament (MPs) was arrested and tortured after the Arua By-Election. This is the aftermath of the Elections and the state of affairs. As of the documentation of the whole ordeal, this is biggest detail, though it is not countering the words of the lawyers of Robert Kyagulanyi or really showing loyalty to the texts of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. As this one is not defending the way the government have taken these men and woman in custody. Neither has this report vindicated the state, as the revelation that the MPs was arrested in detention facilities that isn’t gazetted or registered. Shows how the militarism is and how they are not following protocol as they have given a get-out-of-jail free-card to the Special Force Command (SFC).
This is a sad report to read, as this is human beings like me and you. What is special of the PDF that the Parliament has dropped, of the members of the Ad Hoc Committee, the Chairman Doreen Amule didn’t sign it, and I wonder why? Why didn’t she sign the report? Because all the other 5 members of the Committee signed it. That is really a weird moment and you should comment on it.
I will now that the quotes or the paragraphs from the report that I feel is worth mentioning. This is showing what the state has done and what the Special Force Command has brought to the table and served the MPs.
“Later when the Committee met with thc UPDF 4th Division Commander Brigadier Kanyesigze Emmanuel, he initially denied holding Hon. Kyagulanyi Robert Sentamu at his barracks, but later implicitly contradictcd himself. He informed the Committee that Hon. Kyagulanyi had been brought to the barracks, specifically to the military hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in a fight with unknown people, Tasked to reveal the identities of whoever had brought Hon. Kyagulanyi Robert to the military facility, he referred the Committee to the Special Forces Command (SFC) and the Police” (Ad Hoc Report, P: 6, 2018).
“An interface with and observation of the detained MPs and other suspects revealed that they had been severely battered with Hon. Karuhanga Gerald, Hon. Mwiru Paul and Hon. Michael Mabikke complaining of chest and back pain. Hon. Karuhanga Gerald was limping as a result of an injury to his knee. They stated that they had been viciously brutalized during and after arrest while in Police custody in Arua and during transportation between the place of arrest and detention at Arua CPS and later Bondo Military barracks. They further informed the Committee that the brutality and beating was administered by men dressed in uniforms of the Special Forces Command (SFC)” (Ad Hoc Report, P: 7, 2018).
“Some of the suspects in detention, whom the Committee was able to interact with were in dire need of urgent medical attention, notably the two women and one gentleman who could neither sit nor walk and were visibiy in deep pain, Hon. Mwiru Pau1, Hon. Karuhanga Gerald and Hon. Mabikke Michael. However, they had not been accorded access to requisite medical he1p, save for diagnosis by the Police Surgeon more over without medication” (…) “Hon. Lubega Medard Sseggona and Hon. Basalirwa Asuman who volunteered pro bono legal services were allowed by the Military to witness the proceedings of the General Court Martial before whom Hon. Kyagulanyi Robert Ssentamu, in his disquieting physical state was arraigned pleaded with the Military for an opportunity to have private medical personnel urgently access Hon. Kyagulanyi. They were reportedly assured that this would not happen immediately but rather in the future while the suspect was at the Makindye Military detention facility” (Ad Hoc Report P: 10, 2018).
“The Committee observes that Hon. Kyagulanyi Robert Ssentamu was detained in 2 military barracks- Gulu Fourth Division and Bondo. Hon. Francis Zaake’s place of detention was never brought to the attention of the Committee. The rest of the Members of Parliament were detained in Bondo Military barracks and Arua and Gulu Police Stations. Gulu and Bondo Military barracks are not gazetted detention facilities; therefore the detention of suspects in those places violated Article 23 (2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995” (Ad Hoc Report, P: 11, 2018).
“Hon. Kyagulanyi Robert Ssentamu informed the Committee that he feels pain all over his body and was only surviving on pain killing injections. The left side of his abdomen is visibly painful and the wounds on his head are sti1l visible. He complains of chest pain and says his teeth were loosened by the beating he suffered at the hands of the men clad in uniforms of the Special Forccs Command (SFC)” (Ad Hoc Report, P: 14, 2018).
This report really shows the intent of the state assault and hurt Robert Kyagulanyi, as the body of his is beaten and his pains are severe. Even as the President and others have tried to downplay the torture of the MP. As you see in the quotes, the other MPs and citizens has also been badly treated by the state. When Mwiru, Karuhanga and Mabikke have been complained with pains in their chest and back-pain, as well as Karuhanga are limping as a result of it. Therefore, the proof and affidavits here of witnessing the pains of fellow MPs. Shows the intent to hurt as they we’re becoming a group of opposition members who was standing in the way of the President. That is why the state had to send the Presidential Guards to attack them, arrest them, torture them and even detain them at locations that isn’t officially registered as prisons for civilians.
This report is really showing the injustice of the days in and after the By-Election in Arua. We are seeing MPs worried about how the lack of medical attention to the MPs and also the result of the violence done on these men. Where they were detained and how the SFC has become a vital instrument to attack these people. The SFC have really shown what they are there for, not for justice or liberty, but for intimidation and harassment of people. They are not there to secure the President, but instead used as a tool to oppress these people. Peace.
Reference:
REPORT OF THE ADHOC COMMITTEE ON THE PLIGHT OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND OTHER SUSPECTS WHO WERE BRUTALLY ARRESTED AND DETAINED BY SECURITY FORCES IN THE RUN UP TO THE ARUA MUNICIPALITY BY-ELECTIONS OF 15TH AUGUST 2018, 22,08.2018











