Neo-liberal Uganda forces were created to protect markets and not people : Police and Army Officers mercilessly beat up pregnant women in COVID-19 Lockdown

 

 

 Ms Nakate (L), who was reportedly tortured by security operatives, being attended to by a nurse at the police clinic. State House photo

Coronavirus curfew: Police officers detained for torturing woman

https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Coronavirus-Police-officers-detained-torturing-woman/688334-5514396-6q1j5z/index.html 

 

Saturday April 4 2020

By Monitor Reporter

 

Kampala-Police have arrested two of their colleagues and a member of a village defence unit who reportedly beat up a pregnant woman after accusing her of flouting orders against crowding in bars and public spaces.

According to a statement by the Presidential Press Unit, the arrest followed a Saturday directive by President Museveni on receiving reports of the alleged beating and torture of Ms Mercy Nakate by the security operatives.

Ms Nakate, 23, a resident of Busega, Kibumbiro village in Rubaga Division, Kampala, was reportedly beaten on March 27 by a group of policemen and village defence unit officials who were conducting a patrol.

According to Ms Nakate, who is seven-months pregnant, on the fateful night she had moved out of her house to buy a herbal remedy (emumbwa), when rain forced her to seek shelter at a common makeshift socialisation facility used by residents.

"It was then that the policemen who were on patrol found us and immediately began beating us. The other people ran away but given my condition, I could not run. They descended on me, hitting and kicking me despite my cries for mercy," she said.

When the barbaric officers left, Ms Nakate's colleagues helped her go home.

Woman shows bruises on her body following beatings by LDUs in ELegu on April 3, 2020

 

Editorial: Beatings won’t end Covid-19

https://observer.ug/viewpoint/64184-editorial-beatings-won-t-end-covid-19 

 

April 8, 2020

 

Written by Editorial

 

If police brutality were the antidote for the coronavirus disease, we would not need scientists to end the devastating pandemic.

The cruelty with which security forces enforced President Yoweri Museveni’s ban on the sale of non-foodstuffs in markets, and public transport was so horrifying!

It appears the president’s directive was susceptible to multiple interpretations and meant different things to security forces; in particular the Local Defence Units (LDU) askaris. To them, the directive meant arming themselves with assault rifles, batons and honing their brutalizing skills.

They generally prepared themselves to unleash terror on the citizens. Mainstream and social media showed overly enthusiastic LDUs beating Aloyo Hadijah with glee, a widow and food vendor who was found on the streets of Kampala selling food. In Mityana town, a retired army officer, Maj Gen Kasirye Gwanga also commanded soldiers to beat whoever was found operating a shop.

Even after the minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Amelia Kyambadde, condemned the police, army and LDUs’ clobbering and destroying people’s merchandise, some officers continued unleashing terror on citizens. The soldiers and other enforcers need to be reminded that the Constitution and its attendant Bill of Rights have not been suspended.

Treating a person in an inhuman and degrading manner still remains an offence and the security forces should remember that they are personally liable for these offences.
They cannot be exonerated by claiming they committed the offences while enforcing the president’s order. These guidelines direct all

law enforcement officers to abide by the law and the service standing orders in the arrest and handling of arrested persons. Further, the chief of defence forces (CDF) and the inspector general of Police (IGP) should rein in their officers to desist and avoid situations of unwarranted deprivation of the right to security and liberty of the person, harassment and extortion of Ugandans.

The boda boda riders and taxi drivers have been the worst victims of this extortion. When they fail to part with money, then brutality is the natural response from these enforcers. It is also in the interest of the country that security forces remain healthy while doing their work.
For instance, while the public is urged to maintain social distances, security officers are still seen walking in groups of more than six persons.

We have not seen these enforcers properly dressed in protective gear. They too are human and need protection from the fast-spreading virus. We wouldn’t like to have a situation where the enforcers ultimately become the unintended victims of this virus.