The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Busia, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mackson Wanyama, a 23-year-old resident of Nangwe village, Western division of Busia municipality is seeking for compensation from the government.
Wanyama says that he was beaten by police who were enforcing presidential directives on curfew, one evening in June this year when he was going to buy drugs for flue at a nearby drug shop at Nangwe, when he met police officers on patrol. The officers who never listened to his excuses caned him to the extent that he could not walk anymore.
He sustained wounds on his back, hands and other parts of the body. Wanyama says he is now stranded with wounds on his body that his parents have tried to spend money on to treat but he is not improving.
The victim, given his weak sight, was unable by then to identify the police officers who beat him up.
Wanyama’s mother, Faridah Birungi says that she is worried of her son’s life because they have tried to treat the wounds but there’s no change, the wounds are now just producing pus as they grow deeper. Albinos have very delicate skins.
She expressed wary of her son to have been affected with cancer.
Birungi says that they severally tried to raise concerns to the offices of both Busia district police commander- DPC and the Resident District Commissioner- RDC to seek assistance but in vain. She is appealing for government intervention.
Mathew Tusubira, the Busia deputy resident district commissioner says that they registered the victim’s concerns and they are going to engage the district police commander to take charge of the albino’s treatment.
Tony Odonkara, the acting Busia district police commander says that they have a challenge that the victim is unable to identify the police officers who brutalized him when they had resumed to enforce presidential directives.
“There were a group of gangs that was beating and robbing people and these people were working behind police patrols, and such cases were registered in Nangwe and Solo villages within Busia municipality,” Odonkara said. “We are working with secret intelligence agencies to ensure we arrest these criminals.” He did not divulge if he has interviewed the officers who were on duty in the area where the victim was beaten up.
*****
URN
