Family of tortured victim asks police to foot medical bills

Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The parents of a 28-year-old man who was allegedly tortured want the police to foot the medical bills.

Daniel Isabirye, a retail metal stall operator in Buwenge sub county was two weeks ago arrested and allegedly tortured by the police who were enforcing the curfew in Magamaga trading centre along the Jinja-Kamuli highway.

Isabirye says that despite informing the police officers that he was experiencing pain in his back, they continued beating and later detained him at Magamaga police post for four days.

The victim’s father James Badagawa says that his son was beaten on the head and requires specialized treatment but they are financially incapacitated to afford the medical bills.

Badagawa further reveals that during Isabirye’s detention, some police personnel tasked them to pay a fee of 200,000 Shillings to be released.

Margret Badagawa, the mother says that police should investigate the matter and arrest the police officers implicated. She adds that the family needs 1.5 million Shillings to cater for Isabirye’s medical bills.

The Kiira region police spokesperson James Mubi says that Isabirye was detained at their police post. He however declined to divulge further details saying that inquiries into his torture claims are ongoing.

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