Elegu: Arrested Policemen, Soldiers to Be Charged Today for Aggravated Torture

On Sunday 5th April, we run a story of police officers and UPDF soldiers who were arrested for torturing several women Saturday night.

The women were found holed up in their rental houses during curfew hours at Elegu border in Amuru district.

The soldiers and policemen tortured women and men on the pretext that they were enforcing President Museveni’s directives to stem the spread of Coronavirus in Uganda.

The security forces stormed the rentals of Ms Margret Auma, the Chairperson of Elegu Women Cross Border Traders Savings and Credit Cooperative Society and rounded men and women in the rented rooms. Some were naked while others pregnant.

The security forces frog matched, beat up and forced women to roll in the mud.

On Monday, Police spokesperson Fred Enanga strongly condemned the act and said that the suspects are being processed on charges of aggravated torture and will be produced to Court on Tuesday while the soldiers will be charged before the Court Martial.

“The leadership of both the UPDF and Uganda Police have strongly condemned this misconduct by our officers who instead of protecting the Constitutional and civil rights of the citizens, ended up violating it with excessive use of force,” said Enanga.

In total, 16 officers were arrested, 10 police officers and 6 military officers.

“The 10 Police Officers are being processed on charges of aggravated torture under the Anti-torture Act and the 6 military officers are being charged in the Court Martial,” Enanga added.

The suspects will be produced in Court today Tuesday.

The arrested police officers include ASP Richard Balenzi, Sgt Charles Musasizi, CPL Jacob Odong, PC Moses Opado, PC Augustine Opio, PC Bosco Okello, PC Jimmy Okello, PC Richard Ssentamu, PC Constantine Byamukama, PC Nelson Funga, and PC Alan Busingye.

The Army officers include Lance Corporal Constantine Awiny Abor, pt Muhammad Makanga, pt John Mark Eboku, pt Robert Mutenga, pt Silvester Ayu and pt Emma Ahimbisibwe.