"We have no reason to torture people," Kulayigye says, "as a policy torture is outlawed."
Ugandans the evidence on the ground is self evident... no matter what the Ugandan Military dictatorship states, no matter the amount of denial they issue, members of the International Community and Ugandans know for a fact that the NRM Military dictatorship under Yoweri Museveni Kaguta over the past 20 years has systematically engaged in the dubious inhuman act on torturing Ugandans to extract "confessions" involving alleged "terrosist activity" against the state. That many citizens have lost their lives in Yoweri Museveni's Gulags, also known as "safe house" is but an deniable fact!!!
Matek
Uganda: Torture Persists!
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The Monitor (Kampala)
July 5, 2006
Posted to the web July 5, 2006
Posted to the web July 5, 2006
Kampala
It is a contradiction that while the army says it is doing all it can to be a people's force and respect the
laws against torture, local and international human rights bodies insist that torture persists in Uganda.
Last week, on June 26th, as Uganda joined the rest of the world to mark the International Day in Support of Torture victims, new evidence emerged to show that the practice continues.
In Fort Portal, some 360 kilometers from Kampala, a man brought guests to tears when he narrated his ordeal at the hands of state security agencies. Francis Opio, 35 of Liyala village in Gulu district had to have his hands amputated as a result of the torture he went through.
In Kampala, another man appeared at a press conference to show off serious torture marks he claimed were inflicted on him in a safe house.
But the army and defence spokesman, Maj. Felix Kulaiygye insists the army neither has will nor reason to torture people.
"We have no
reason to torture people," Kulayigye says, "as a policy torture is outlawed."
But his words are sharply disputed by new testimonies and reports by numerous human rights bodies including the government's Human Rights Commission.
In its report on the state of human rights in Uganda released in May, Amnesty International noted that the situation has not improved.
"Torture by state security agents persisted." it said.
The local Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) also says torture is still with us.
"Our findings from research suggest that a wide variety of government agents continued using torture as a method of imposing their will on citizens," the FHRI report says.
FHRI executive Director Mr Livingstone Sewanyana says, "generally speaking the practice of torture persists; of course the army is
doing something about it but the practice is there."
New methods used
According to the victims, the army has devised new and more gruesome means of torture. The latest is alleged to be the heating of beer and soda bottle tops in a fire and them making the victim kneel on them.
Several people are still tied the Kandoya style where a rope is tied around their ankles and tightened at the back.
Victims show the media how they were tortured (knelt on hot beer tops and beaten) inside safe houses
The practice stretches chest bones and is reportedly one of the most painful.
Mr Patrick Ssentogo, who had a stint in a torture house and was released on June 26, says he was handcuffed in one hand and tied to a pole on the roof.
"On another occasion, I was taken to
another pit that has snakes in it. Big snakes," Ssentongo said at the opposition political party, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) press conference last week.
Ssentogo showed off torture marks on almost all parts of his body indicating beating, cuts by sharp objects and rope marks.
FHRI, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch accuse the Chietaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), THE violent Crime Unit (VCCU) of the police department, the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task as the major perpetrators of torture.
"The Violent Crime Crack Unit, CMI, and UPDF have again been identified as the most persistent in violators of human rights in Uganda," says FHRI in its report.
Army reacts
Kulayigye told Inside Politics that the army is seeking to return to its old bush days edict where respect for the civilian is upper most
of priorities.
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"The reason we have sent 80 officers to Kyankwanzi is actually intended to re-invigorate the old ideological thinking of the UPDF based on 'the civilian was the principle reason we exist'," he said.
He says that as much as individuals might overstep their authority and torture suspects in the course of interrogation, the systems has tough penalties if one is reported.
"We do not condone torture. We do internal checks and when someone is found guilty the consequences are really bad," he said.
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