Torture is not NRM style
Former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi is back with a bang defending the ruling National Resistance Movement-NRM Party in condemning alarming acts of torture meted on civilians.
Amama Mbabazi was recently appointed Chairman of the African Global Security foundation launched on February 13 in Dakar, Senegal, to address matters pertaining to the security situation in Africa.
The African Global Security was set up by the founding member states of Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritania, Senegal, Togo, and Uganda.
While speaking to journalists on his new appointment, Mbabazi seized the opportunity to criticize security operatives supposedly tarnishing the reputation of his party the NRM, by engaging in acts of human rights violations.
Mbabazi clarified that as a staunch founding member of the ruling party, their principles condemn torture as unacceptable and an outright breach of the laws of Uganda. He says NRM was formed on the basis of freedom and peace for all, regardless of one’s political affiliation
“You know I belong to the NRM party and I subscribe to its principles and policies because I substantially contributed to the formation, And one of the things we fought for is freedom and a peaceful society ruled by law irrespective of what political opinion you have. Torture is unacceptable and a breach of our law,”he said
Torture is not NRM style
The former Presidential aspirant however distanced himself from referring to particular incidents saying he doesn’t want to interfere with matters before the Courts of Law.
He also defended the fact that the government has out-rightly condemned the act and asked that they take strong and effective measures if it is happening.
“Torture is not a civilized way of doing anything and I believe the government doesn’t subscribe to it , I have heard government condemn it, they should continue and take strong and effective measures to stop it,if it is happening, I speak theoretically and not in respect of any particular case because current cases are before courts of law and I shouldn’t comment on them,” he stated
Reports of torture have been vibrant in the recent months ,compelling human rights activists, religious leaders,politicians and the international community to react.
Yesterday, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Dr Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu asked the government to bring to book perpetrators of human trafficking and human rights violations like torture as they commemorate Janan Luwum Day.
Currently, Opposition legislators are boycotting plenary in the Parliament of Uganda over torture and acts of Human rights violations. Leader of Opposition Hon Mathais Mpuuga led a petition to render Minister of Security, Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi unfit for office.
The LOP is hunting for a total of 176 MPs to append their signatures disapproving the manner in which security forces are handling civilians under the watch of the Minister.
Mpuuga stated that Opposition decided to move the motion over several discrepancies in security circles under his watch.
“I laid documents in Parliament in his presence over torture, forced disappearances, murders and he did not respond. We have resolved to invoke rule 109 of our Rules of Procedure and Article 118 of the Constitution to censure the Minister of Security,”he stated on Tuesday last week.
On Monday this week, eight youths alleging torture by security agencies presented their petition to the UNHCR head offices in Kololo, Kampala, challenging the mandate of Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) in fighting the continued state violence on citizens.
In their petition, the torture victims want the UNHCR to block funding to the UHRC because it has remained silent to acts of torture, forced arrests, abductions and other human rights abuses. The group claims victims of torture have been forced to flee to exile because of fear of being reprimanded by security forces for speaking up about it.
The country has recently experienced incidents of alleged torture by the State, writer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija accussed security forces of abducting and torturing him on orders of the First son and Commander of the Land Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba .
The other incident involves the National Unity Platform -NUP coordinator for Kasese district Samuel Masereka who also says security personnel abducted and took him to an unknown destination. He was reportedly tortured daily for 20 days before he was released. Both Kakwenza and Masereka returned to the public with visible signs of torture.
