
EFF Condems Police Brutality in Uganda, Makerere University (06.11.2019)



The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), through its Country Rapporteur for South Sudan, Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, has been following with concern the challenges facing the implementation by the parties, of the September 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
The Commission expresses its serious concern about the imminent risk of relapse of the country into violence, which would certainly lead to another round of death and displacement of civilians. While only a few days are left before the deadline for the formation of the revitalized government of national unity and the start of the transitional period on 12 November, progress has not been made in the implementation of two key pre-transitional tasks, notably security arrangements and the number of states as well as internal boundaries of states.
The Commission deplores the intransigence and lack of concern of the parties to the R-ARCSS in relation to the plight of the people of South Sudan, leading to the absence of a consensual timeline and the requisite minimum conditions for the formation of a stable government of national unity by the current deadline.
The Commission notes with concern the disagreement between the parties to the R-ARCSS (namely the Government of South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO)) on the formation of the revitalized government of national unity by the deadline of 12 November 2019. While one side is inclined to proceed with the plan of forming the government of national unity by 12 November, the other has called for the resolution of the dispute over the implementation of the two key pre-transitional tasks before the forming of the government of national unity and extension of the 12 November deadline.
The Commission is particularly alarmed that the inevitable disagreement that will result from formation of the government of national unity before progress is made in respect of the two key pre-transitional tasks, will create conditions that jeopardise the lives and peace of the South Sudanese people.
In light of the above, the Commission:
Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, Chairperson of the African Commission
Commissioner Rapporteur for the Republic of South Sudan and Focal Person of the Commission on Human Rights in Conflict Situations





When reading the letter ‘Update on combating crime’, which was released today on the 3rd November 2019. It was like reading a spread-sheet from an Inspector General of Police. It was reading into the works of the police and investigations made by the Police Force. This wasn’t an letter made by actual President. The Head of State and the Command-in-Chief. No, this was the letter an Inspector General of Police (IGP) should have made.
That President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is micro-managing is now common knowledge. This is why just mere week ago or so, the Deputy IGP had to formulate a plan to criminal gangs, which was just putting basic policing onto a spread-sheet and call it a day. Therefore, what was made today, as a show of effort and work. The President really should have had the IGP J.M. Okoth-Ochola released this letter or something similar. Since, this is initially his job, if not let CP Fred Enaga do his thing and shred some cheese over it and call it a meal.
When saying all this. I will take some pieces of it and show why I feel like this. Because, that is the only way this letter from him makes some sense.
“Greetings, after some weeks of absence. This time, I will, again, address you on the issue of combating crime because crime was appearing, again, after we had suppressed it with Operation Wembley in the year 2002. The criminal groups, in recent times, had killed people in the areas of Kampala-Entebbe, Ntungamo, Lyantonde and the Kisoro areas. I have not yet received the report for Kisoro. However, for Kampala Metropolitan, Ntungamo and Lyantonde, the gangs have been wiped out. These gangs had killed 13 people, injured 2 and robbed sh. 24 million in total” (Museveni, 03.11.2019).
Francis K. Butagira statement at the United Nations in New York on the 8th July 2003: “The collection of illicit arms in an ongoing activity by law enforcement agencies. A Joint Task Force by the security agencies, code named “Operation Wembley” set up early in 2002 to tackle increased armed crime resulted in the recovery of hundreds of firearms” (Butagira, 08.07.2003). Sam A Akaki wrote: “Creation of ad hoc and unauthorised detaining agencies, such as Operation Wembley and its successor, the Violent Crime Crack Unit (VCCU)” (Written evidence submitted by International Lobby for Reform in Uganda (ILORU), December 2004). What this is showing how he promoted the Operation Wembly now and saying what is happening is the same the past ad-hoc action. This means, there are something similar in the path and usage of the police resources. Therefore, he could just have been an IGP and not so presidential.
After this he shows stories from several places in the Republic, where the been murders, thieving and gangs on rampage. Just writing a protocol of what is the gist of the criminal activity done and even whose name behind it. That is so not like a President, but like a Police Commander. However, he ended this piece with this:
“You all can see that what was missing was vigilance by the public and the Police and increasing the speed of responding by the Police. The cameras helped in a few cases. Forensic analysis of cartridges helped in all of them. Police dogs, helped a bit in the Ntungamo incidents. It is easy to defeat these criminals as I said from the very beginning. You can see, how the criminals are trying to use our good roads and the good telephone system to move from Kampala and commit crimes in Ntungamo or any other far corner of Uganda. I will not use permanent road-blocks to catch them. It disturbs Nalumanya and Ssalumanya (the ones who are guilty and the ones who are not guilty). I will always use the technology of jigger extraction. You do not hurt the toe because there is a jigger there. You patiently pull back the skin, until you extract the jigger itself and reward it with fire with little damage to the toe” (Museveni, 03.11.2019).
We can all see, that his pleased by his own achievement like a Police Commander would be, if his policies and his methods was working. However, his the President and not the Police Commander. Even, if he has the overall leadership of the Republic. That doesn’t mean that he should involve himself as directly as this.
The way he wrote the stories of the crimes. The way he is saying that the roads, the telephones and everything else makes it easier for criminals. What makes it easier for criminals to thrive is the lack of policing, lack of rule of law and also an impoverished police. What has been done here is ad-hoc acts of sudden change of what the police was focused on. Instead of focusing on opposition police, it actually did police work and went after gangs. However, that shouldn’t be commended, but says more about the lack of work been put in the right places by the authorities, by the President and by the supposed IGP. Nevertheless, this will continue and this is not the final word in the saga.
We just know it comes more, but this isn’t the sound of reassuring President. No, this is the words of a proud IGP doing his thing. Peace.



After two weeks of heavy military presence and raids at the halls and campus of Makerere University. This comes after international community outcry as well, as Mastercard Foundation statement as well. The army reacts and suddenly let one of their men go. This happens as the state has violated the turf of the students, they have raided their homes, hurt people with violent acts, harmed their lives and assaulted them. They have used tear-gas and live-bullets in and around the halls. Clearly doing it while looking for the ones initiating the demonstrations.
Therefore, when the news struck yesterday, that the army is probing one guy. I am just asking myself. Isn’t that a nice goat, to be precise, a fabulous scapegoat.
Look at this:
“UPDF army has arrested the officer who commanded military into Makerere University protest over the 15% tuition increment. Army spokesperson, Brig Richard Karemire has ordered for the arrest of Capt Richard Lubeere” (Delta TV Uganda, 01.11.2019).
Well, what can I say, he was not alone doing this. His a captain, he didn’t do this with the chain-in-command, neither without instructions what to do and what to look for. The Captain didn’t walk blindly into Lumumba or Mitchell and considered the implication of life, faith and possible horrific events that would transpire. No, most likely he followed command and ordered it accordingly. Just like all fellow officers of the police, and the soldiers on campus.
All of them was following orders from above. They were all liable for their actions still, but this doesn’t mean that one man is the only culprit. All of the soldiers who violated the students should answer for their deeds. All of the officers/soldiers who has hurt, hospitalized and raped students. Should answer for their crimes, as they targeted innocent civilians, some who just happen to live their and reside on campus. They were not even participating in the demonstrations. Still, they did this.
It is not like the commander is innocent. His not, he should answer for the deeds done at Makerere. But he shouldn’t do it alone. The ones ordering him and directing him should also answer, together with the ones shooting the live-bullet,s the one throwing the tear-gas, the ones beating and arresting students. The ones raping students and so-on. All of them are liable for the crimes committed. The destruction of property, the breach of trust between the security officials and the students. Should all answer for this.
However, the state thinks the public are stupid enough to just let one man take the blame. It’s like they are following this hook from Akon:
“ I understand that there are some problems
And I’m not too blind to know
All the pain you kept inside you
Even though you might not show
If I can apologize for being wrong
Then it’s just a shame on me
I’ll be the reason for your pain
And you can put the blame on me
You could put the blame on me” (Akon – ‘Sorry, blame it on me’ 2007).
Still, as stated earlier, the captain is a beautiful goat, a fine specimen, his the well-rounded scapegoat. Peace.


