Uganda's president warns police on brutality

By Patience Atuhaire

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni condemned what he referred to as indiscipline by the security forces who torture or beat ordinary Ugandans.

Mr Museveni added that security forces who torture suspects are lazy and unwilling to carry out proper investigations and gather substantial evidence.

During his televised national address, video images of suspects arrested for the shooting of Works Minister General Katumba Wamala, who were allegedly tortured in detention, were played.

The president said brutality would "damage our legitimacy" adding that "nobody should beat any Ugandan. The use of torture is unnecessary and wrong".

"Why beat a person? Because you are too lazy to interrogate them. They are criminals but torture is a mistake," the president said.

Uganda's opposition leader, Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine has accused the president of not being sincere in his remarks on police brutality.

"I can imagine how the victims of his brutality feel as they watched him shamelessly spew out lies, completely unconcerned about their plight. To you all victims of torture, illegal detentions and abductions, I can assure you that there will be a day of justice," Mr Kyagulanyi is quoted by Nile Post news website as saying.

Mr Kyagulanyi has been a victim of police brutality on several occasions.

In January, Human Rights Watch called on Ugandan security forces to end the arbitrary or abusive use of force against civilians as the country prepared to hold elections that were marred by violence and threats to the opposition.

This article was originally published by BBC News. [Photo: Reuters]