
Uganda: Press Release on video footage that emerged of a police pick-up, appearing to have knocked a man to the roadside (30.07.2016)



“I had a case of my brother who was arrested by police and was asked to pay UGX 100,000. But after the community meeting by UHRC, I learnt that police bond is free.” A participant in a community meeting in Luweero District (UHRC, P: 64, 2016).
As there been a hectic year for Uganda, with the preparation for the General Election of 2016, the report from Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), should have lots of instances where the breaches of violations towards political opponents and dissidents from the NRM-Regime. As the system is to uphold the status-quo and respect Mzee. I will today look through the Report and find the most staggering numbers and tales. To show what kind of actions the government does against their own citizens, in the name of the Executive and his reign to keep rule all for himself!
Alone alleged violations in Uganda that we’re registered in 2015 we’re “Torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment” total of 345, “Deprivation of personal liberty/detention beyond 48 hours” total of 247, “ and kind of violation in 2015 we’re 909 to all the offices of UHRC. As seen the registered complaints to the UHRC; the respondents are the once claimed to be responsible for the violations. Here is the one usually behind it:
“The top five respondents over the past six years (2010-2015) have remained the UPF, private individuals, UPDF, local governments and the UPS. In the six years, the UPF had a total of 2,646 (the highest number of complaints registered against a respondent), while private individuals had 1,271. The UPDF had 622; UPS, 205; and local governments, 200” (UHRC, P: 15, 2016). This here proves the level of violations from the Army and Police; the once that are surprised by that haven’t followed how the Modus Operandi of the security organizations in Uganda.

One testimony to the UHRC:
“I was told by the investigations team they would follow up my complaint of being detained for eight days at Kakira Police Station. Indeed the Uganda Human Rights [Commission] team did so. I was never at any one point in time asked for facilitation to conduct the investigation until it ended. I now await the outcome of the investigation. By the way, it is upon the Commission’s intervention that I was released immediately. Investigations were conducted objectively and thoroughly to the extent that the perpetrators asked for my forgiveness.” (UHRC, P: 15, 2016).
Second testimony to the UHRC:
“I was arrested by the police from Adjumani Central Police Station on allegations of theft. During detention, my money [amounting to] UGX 200,000 was taken and kept by the police. After conviction and serving my sentence in prison, I went to claim my money, but police told me it was an exhibit in court. When I reported the matter to UHRC, it was registered and investigated and all my money was paid back.” (UHRC, P: 16, 2016).
Complaints completed in 2015:
“In 2015, UHRC closed 382 complaints after investigations. Of these, 287 were backlog files and 95 were fresh complaints registered during the year. 382 complaints were closed for various reasons, including successful mediations, insufficient evidence, receipt of remedy by the complainant, requests from the complainants, referral to other institutions, cautioning of respondent and not revealing any human rights violation. Other reasons included merging of files, failure to trace respondents and death of complainant” (UHRC, P: 17, 2016).

Outstanding compensation from Attorney General to the Tribunal:
“Therefore, the UGX 758,552,86813 that MoJCA paid as compensation to victims of human rights violations in 2015 did not cover any beneficiary of the complaints decided by the Commission during the period 2013 to 2015 (refer to Annex A). As of 31st December 2015, the outstanding awards against the Attorney General was UGX 5,047,671,968 (Uganda shillings five billion, forty seven million, six hundred seventy one thousand, nine hundred sixty eight)” (UHCR, P:31, 2016). Here is the reason for the delayed compensation of the awarded through the tribunal: “Delayed payment of Tribunal awards. Respondents, especially the Attorney General, take long to pay tribunal awards. Although the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has argued that this is mainly due to limited budgetary allocations, UHRC has realised that the delay is sometimes caused by the bureaucratic processes that require the respective state attorney to form the first opinion on whether to appeal or clear payment of the award. This has caused untold delays, especially in cases where the state attorney may not be willing to recommend payment of the award, particularly where the Attorney General was not represented during the hearings” (UNHCR, P: 32, 2016).
Prisoners awaiting Ministerial Orders:
“K.S Awaiting ministerial order for 24 years. It was reported that he does not get visitors” (…) “B.E Awaiting ministerial order for the last 15 years” (UNHCR, P: 37, 2016).
Third Testimony:
“The human rights training we attended were very helpful. I learnt that when I torture a suspect it is entirely on me and me personally…”said an officer from Kasangati Police” (UNHCR, P: 37, 2016)
A little on how the detainees and Prison conditions are:
Many places don’t have transport for suspects of crime, they are taken random by public transport in places like Kole, Erute, Lira, Anyeke, Otuke, Pece and Kinene. With this result on place as well: “At Kamwenge and Bigere police posts, suspects were transported to court and back on bodaboda at a cost of UGX 60,000” (UNHCR, P: 44, 2016). Also inaccurate salaries and compensation of Police officers: “At Buganikere police post, an officer had not received salary since December 2013 and at Hima police station, five staff members had missed their salary of September 2015. At Rwangara police post, staff could not easily access salary because the bank was far away and they would have to incur transport costs” (UNHCR, P: 44, 2016). Even lacking basic structures is a problem at Police Post, Police Stations and Prison cells: “Detention facilities that did not have adequate water for sanitation and personal hygiene included Kiboga, Kasangati and Rubanda prisons, as well as Buseruka Police Post and Nakaloke and Bunkhongo police stations” (UNHCR, P: 51, 2016). When it comes to sleeping facility for detainees: “UHRC found that 234 out of the 896 detention facilities inspected did not have adequate beddings; so, detainees used either tattered blankets, mats or pieces of papers. This was observed in 41 prisons, 192 police detention facilities and one military detention place inspected. These facilities included: Mutufu and Ngora prisons; Ngai, Iceme, Aber, Kwera and Kangai police posts; as well as Dokolo, Otuke (adult cells), Agawata, Adwari and Olilim police stations” (UNHCR, P: 52, 2016).

The Senior Citizens Grants for Empowerment roll-out plan:
“UHRC noted with concern that although 1.2 million people in Uganda were aged 65 years and qualify for the SAGE programme, only 123,260 were benefiting. However, in August 2015, the government announced the roll-out plan of the SAGE programme to 40 more districts across the country over the next five years, beginning with 20 in the FY 2015/16 and subsequently adding five districts every year for the next four years until FY 2019/20” (UNHCR, P: 103, 2016).
Digital Privacy:
“There were allegations of infection by malicious software of communication devices belonging to various individuals, including journalists, believed to be instigated by state agents.156 It is alleged that once infected with this software, a person’s computer or phone could instantly be remotely monitored; passwords, files, microphones and cameras could be viewed and manipulated without the owner’s knowledge” (UNHRC, P: 141, 2016).
On the General Election:
“UHRC noted reports of the overzealousness and selective application of EC guidelines by the UPF, leading to their alleged interference in and denial of some campaign rallies, prevention of opposition accident victims from accessing a health centre for treatment, prevention of people from attending opposition rallies, violently dispersing opposition rallies and injuring supporters; and the arrest of opposition officials and confiscation of opposition materials such as manifestos. It is worth noting that the UPF took action on some of its errant officers and instituted investigations into the incidents” (…) “There were concerns about the alleged discriminatory nature in the way political players enjoyed rights and freedoms of assembly, movement and personal liberty, which did not, in many cases, favour opposition leaders during the electoral period” (…) “Although UHRC noted positive developments, such as strengthened internal mechanisms in political parties, the successful nomination of presidential, parliamentary and various candidates at the local government, and introduction of new technology, such as SMS and the online system, there were challenges that still hindered the realisation of the right to vote. UHRC also noted that some of the challenges identified during the previous elections, such as the timely review of electoral laws, had not been addressed in the run-up to the 2016 elections. In addition, UHRC notes that there is need to address evolving challenges, such as lack of internal democratic party processes, the emergence of crime preventers and militia during the electoral period, and the varied interpretation of laws, in order to ensure that the right to vote is realized” (UNHRC, P: 169- 172, 2016).

Proposed amendment of the 48 hour rule:
“There have been proposals to amend Article 23 (4), which prescribes for the production of a detained person to court within 48 hours from the time of his or her arrest, on grounds that the prescribed 48 hours is insufficient to bring a person to court” (… ) ” UHRC, therefore, recommends that:
Uganda Police Force should urgently address the issue of detention of suspects without files. If there are no files or charges against them, they should be released:
“UHRC made this recommendation to the UPF in 2013. In 2015, the UPF informed UHRC that police commanders and officers in the Criminal Intelligence and Investigative Directorate (CIID) were tasked to ensure that whenever suspects are arrested, files should be compiled, proper and timely investigations carried out, and the necessary procedure followed to take the suspects to court immediately. With the establishment of the Directorate of Human Rights and Legal Services at police headquarters and the deployment of regional human rights officers in 16 regions, this problem was partially addressed” (UNHRC, P: 223, 2016).
Aftermath:
Here you saw the definition of Human Rights issues, there we’re even more labor questions and education on Human Rights. The certainty is the levels of force from the Uganda Police Force (UPF) and Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) that are extending themselves into the citizens sphere and not being there to create security; instead breaching the levels of trust from the security organization and the citizens.
If you feel I left something behind, please put it in the commentary. This is for me the most important details; I couldn’t pick it all; as there we’re many breaches and many questionable actions towards the citizens that could be posted today. Because this is close to 2000 words, but the report are 296 pages. So the amount of details in the report could fill many pages more and a bigger article. This here is just a hunch of the breaches that the government and their institutions are doing, also the missing pieces to the laws and the institutions that’s securing the rights of the citizens. Peace.
Reference:
Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) – ‘The 18th Annual Report of the Uganda Human Rights Commission To the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda’ (July, 2016)
“Crowds followed the Former FDC presidential candidate Dr. Kiiza Besigye shortly after reporting to the High-court’s Criminal Division to fulfill one of the conditions court set for his bail on release.
This is the first time Besigye is reporting back before the court’s deputy Registrar since his release on bail on the 12th of this month by Highcourt Judge Masalu Musene” (NTV Uganda, 2016)



This is not something I wish to say, but somebody has too. The man, the Commander, the loyalist to the NRM-Regime and Mzee, IGP Edward Kale Kayihura needs help. I don’t know what kind of help, but something to make sure his spin-control or Consultant Company to make sure his resume gets respected.
He has always blamed the opposition not to following laws or following the Electoral Roadmap, even when it is the police who are besieging the events. They have been stopping meetings, detaining fellow citizens for walking by opposition meetings. Crashing streets with tear-gas and brutally stop the meeting between the opposition and the people.
Then he claimed back in the day that the media we’re to embedded with opposition figures and their convoys instead of covering politics and policing fairly, but he didn’t question the police when they destroyed cars, detained people without charges or even undressed political activist; that was all okay!

So this one day in July he confessed that he wasn’t ready for the Dr. Kizza Besigye release on bail, as he has been detained and jailed for all kind of reason; he is surely still monitored and followed by his men. They are obsessed with the man and his stature as they had to while he was driving towards FDC headquarters in Najjankumbi, the Police Officers we’re driving behind and caning by-passers on the road cheering Besigye’s arrival.
Still, the Commander so obsessed with following Mzee, is now spinning the issue towards Besigye and saying he is working against him. That is partly true, as he wants to change and wants a democratic Police Force, as well as accountability and transparent government. Instead you are accepting the NRM cronyism, while you are following Mzee obediently. With that in mind even when violence is used against innocent citizens, the problem is Besigye. It is always Besigye, not the system and Police Force working to silence opponents of Mzee. No, that cannot be the case or the matter; especially for a loyal Commander Kayihura.
Kayihura needs help, really needs help; he just doesn’t know that himself yet. Because he is stuck behind a hard place and a rock; neither is going to be peaceful or just. They just are going to be hard and narrow. The Commander does not understand what harm he does to himself and his family, because he is lost in the tangle-web of Mzee and needs his grace.

Therefore the Commander blames everybody else for the issues of his Police Force and misuse the draconian laws, instead of securing the public and citizens. He is instead a force for oppression against the public and silencing them. The worst it seem, the Commander think he have the ability to legitimize his actions towards the. That is why he needs help because brutality isn’t Besigye’s fault; he is passing by and driving!! He is not caning and using tear-gas against civilians. That is the Police Force doing under the Command of Kayihura. That is why he needs help and understand his twisted fortune, twisted fortune that is stuck behind loyalty to oppressive behaviour and self-belief in justifying violence against civilians.
I know it isn’t easy to him understand, but if somebody hurt his family often, detained his cousins without charges and destroyed his office as a crime-scene. Then he might understand the oblivion of unlawfulness he has created per instruction of the NRM-Regime. If he would though, as nobody would like to give him the same treatment in a just society; he would be court-side answering for the all the men and woman without charges lingering in jail and all the safe-houses not answered for. This are your legacy together with oppression of opposition with brutal force; not good policing and detecting conspiracy to solve serious crimes. As a commander Edward Kale Kayihura will always be connected with POMA and the destruction of fair political landscape as the Police Force does more to detain opposition than stopping ordinary criminals. The UPF could be respected, but since the Kifeesi squads and their violence is going against the public on your watch. That is what is done on your duty Commander!
So you need help so-called honourable Commander Kayihura, because your ways are apparently twisted and you’re justifying violence under the banner of defending citizens. So with that Police Brutality against innocent civilians proves that you’re not policing, but instead being a useful tool for oppression under the NRM-Regime. That is your legacy, even if you like it or not. Peace.
“Former FDC presidential candidate Dr. Kiiza Besigye appeared before the Kabale chief magistrates Court to answer charges of malicious damage to property and inciting violence” (NTV Uganda, 2016)

There are some ironies, there are some sad days, and then there Deja-vu moments like these. When certain leaders and Commanders put upon themselves to justify their wrong doings and blaming anybody else; something a Certain Police Chief entitle himself all the time and especially in another part of the Election Road Map. Now that it is business as usual, the drive for violence is different, as the regime tries to legitimize their stay.
Though the Police violence that occurred happen after the Opposition leader got released on bail and was driving through Kampala out to Wakiso and his home in Kasangati. The Opposition leader in question was the FDC Presidential Candidate and the man who the State have charged with Treason. After two months incarcerated without any big evidence or affidavit, the man was released, as he was driving the Police and their Men was beating on the people cheering for the passing by of Opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye.
While that is not a new situation for Besigye or the Police Force in question, as they tend to use violence when the Opposition are coming with higher numbers and movement than the Movement actually running the country under the current leadership; it hurt their pride when the People crowds around the Opposition and not the actual President. Therefore to save face the Police who works for the Ruling Regime and defend the Ruling Executive, they are using their force to occupy the land, instead of securing the land, therefore they have to tend to violence to show their power. As IGP Kayihura so brilliantly states in his own words yesterday!

IGP Kayihura said this yesterday:
“The use of teargas, rubber bullets and of course bullets has been eliminated. The only options remaining for the commander at scene is use of water cannons or baton charge,” (…) “The images that were shown on television and social media were selective. They did not show the whole incident where crowds threw stones at the police. That is not journalism,” (…) “We have foiled many crime incidents with help of ordinary citizens. We also have overt and covert operations. I think what matters is how it has been done. Covert officers should not be involved in the beating” (Kato, 2016).
IGP Kayihura uses any sort of excuse at this point, into the oblivion, and his partial media has been a narrative since the crashing of FDC nominal meetings before the Election Road map when they destroyed several cars in the West of Uganda. So his partial policing for the Ruling Regime is and is only in the state of sufficiently dislodges any character of faith in the people supporting the Opposition.
That he is also saying it is biased and that the people we’re creating problem, well in the mind of Kayihura the citizens are the issue and in his way. Instead of being community policing, they are more creating a distance between the Police Force and the Citizens. He could be a Police Commander who respected and worked with the citizens, but that is not his way. What he is doing is making the citizens his enemies and the ones becoming criminals, by association and not by actions. They are civilians who just happen to appear and cheer when a politician pass-by, instead of securing the citizens from occasional criminals, instead the Police are making them criminals! The IGP should be so proud of his progress making by-standers and men on the sidewalk into vermin and so-called Mafioso. They are guilty apparently before honoured by society before the Police are making them innocent. The Innocence of citizens is only if the IGP see them silent in Lira or Mbarara, but the rest are possible villains. This is the view of the current Police Chief, not only in action, but also in words.
This is just one out of many where he has addressed and blamed the citizens as the Police Force gotten away with violence. The Violence blamed on all kind of actions, instead the Police who used brutality against the citizens, as well as live-bullets, tear-gas and beating them with sticks. So the IGP Kayihura, should be more careful and also forget his image. He should not care at this point with the continued force against the opposition and detaining citizens for their affiliation and not their crimes. While the Police Officers can beat on citizens without getting any questions… that should worry and should be an enquiry in Parliament, not to talk about get the Ombudsman to look into the lost files of oppressive behaviour from the Police Commander and his men. Peace.
Reference:
Kato, Joseph – ‘Police okayed beating of citizens, says Kayihura’ (15.07.2016) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Police-okayed-beating-of-citizens–says-Kayihura/-/688334/3295338/-/8werarz/-/index.html


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm55l9j3yaA
“Kizza Besigye: Before my arrest, I had been under illegal detention at my house in Kasangati for quite a while. He says police is “incompetent” despite the resources they “waste”. Says he defied acts of impunity when he escaped to town
Kizza Besigye narrates his arrest ordeal:
– I was taken first to Nalufenya in Jinja from where I was removed and taken to Moroto.
– In Moroto, strange things happened. All inmates were transferred to other police stations. I was the only inmate at the CPS.
– Counter-terrorism unit officers (the ones who wear black uniforms) were in charge of the Moroto CPS while I was there.
– I was in Moroto CPS for two nights before being charged on the third day.
– At Moroto CPS, the cell door was left open. At night, I noticed some movements. The fellow was masked but he rushed out.
– Charging me in Moroto was irregular. When I was brought to Nakawa, that is why I was charged again for the same case.
Kizza Besigye: Those of us who chose to oppose must know the dictator’s wrath will be directed towards us. Arrest. Torture. And sometimes death. Whenever I am arrested, I am at ease with myself. I am always psychologically prepared for arrest and torture. I am never stressed.
Dr. Kizza Besigye: Biggest challenge is when you are still in police custody. Police is a direct extension of the dictator. It’s his arm.
I was relieved when I was taken from Moroto CPS and taken to the prison. Biggest challenge with our prisons is overcrowding. Besigye: At Moroto Prison, we were 174 inmates in a not-very-sizeable ward. At night, every space was occupied
Kizza Besigye: Prison orders for prisoners on remand aren’t fault of prison officials but fault of the law which dates back to the colonial times. These prison orders dating back to colonial times are unconstitutional. They must change.
Kizza Besigye: Prison orders for prisoners on remand aren’t fault of prison officials but fault of the law which dates back to the colonial times. These prison orders dating back to colonial times are unconstitutional. They must change.
Kizza Besigye: In Moroto where I was held, there hadn’t been a hearing for any criminal case in over 2 years. This is serious and it needs to change. The judiciary is underfunded. The money is spent by these Kifeesi you see running and bludgeoning citizens
Kizza Besigye: I commend the Uganda Red Cross, especially the International Red Cross. They have made the lives of inmates bearable by providing basics
Kizza Besigye: There are those remanded on minister’s orders; you are on remand until the minister orders your release or commits you to be tried. Some people have been in prison on minister’s orders for 20 years. This needs to stop.
Kizza Besigye: Sometimes, police go to prisons and take out suspects illegally for interrogation. Some are taken up country
Kizza Besigye: I thank all those who came to visit me in prison. Going to visit any prisoner in Luzira is not an easy matter. You pass through five check points. At some, you are undressed and deprived of basic dignity. You must set aside a whole day
Kizza Besigye: Some people are saying I have put on weight. I have been eating a lot without doing much. I tried doing some exercises
KIzza Besigye: The struggle we are in is not to simply get a new government i.e. replace NRM with FDC. We want to change our country. We want to change our country from a country where leaders are masters and the would-be masters, the citizens, are subjects
Kizza Besigye: We have criminals masquerading under the police. The institution of the police must be a different institution. Greatest of our policemen, soldiers are very unhappy with what’s happening. That is why we won at polling stations where they voted
Kizza Besigye: We want a country of masters, not subjects. We want a country where leaders are servants. In the country we’re working for, government institutions must be of the people not of the master/dictator.
Kizza Besigye: Ugandan citizens who are masters of this country are just being given handouts. There is a war between the rulers and the citizens. That is why they beat up the citizens. The regime sees citizens as enemies
Kizza Besigye: What happened in the last election wasn’t mere stealing of votes but a coup d’etat against the voters. People who want us to join the government in the name of serving Ugandans, serve them under which framework?” (NBS Live, 13.07.2016)