The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
THIS WEEK: UPDF criticised over cover up in city abduction
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There has been sharp criticism towards the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) for the summary trial of the four armed men who were captured on video abducting Yusuf Kawooya, a member of the Democratic Party (DP), in broad daylight near Christ the King Church in the city centre on Oct. 19.
Onlookers gazed in bewilderment as Kawooya was roughed up, punched repeatedly with a gun butt and after whisked off in a commuter taxi.
The armed men were arrested and tried before the Unit Disciplinary Court of the army. However the public demands more answers. Some people have identified the armed men as officers of the Police Flying Squad. Lawyer Nicholas Opiyo said the army must provide the full names, rank and army number of these individuals if they are soldiers at all.
He added that the name of the commandant on whose instructions they were acting should also be given. The video sparked outrage from Ugandans who demanded the security forces to take action on the men.
Ugandans expressed shock on a scene that was reminiscent of the Idi Amin’s reign of terror in Uganda. The incident was another chilling episode in the increasing brutality meted out on Ugandans by security forces.
