Uganda police sources indicate that the number of people who have been arrested in connection with the Kayunga demonstrations is has now grown to over 1,000 and rouge officers and magistrates are making quick money. In the first 5 days after the disturbances where the NRM police and army shot dead 30 Baganda, about 600 people were arrested. Since then, the police has continued to arrest more Baganda, claiming that they are looking for ringleaders and other participants in what they (the police) claim to be public violence and terrorist activities.
Baganda sources within Museveni’s police force have informed us that the primary reasons why so many people are being arrested are politics and money. One source told us: “These arrests were ordered from the very top for political reasons. They provide a chance for the NRM to shut up its loudest opponents in Mmengo and the opposition parties, especially DP. It is one way to put make it difficult for the opposition to start organizing themselves for the 2011 campaigns. The majority are arrested not because of evidence that they did anything but because they used to talk a lot against the NRM government on radio stations. So many of them are Baganda DP or FDC campaigners. In some cases the evidence is manufactured using tips from Banyankore, Bakiga and other non-Baganda who are NRM moles in the opposition parties.”
Another Muganda veteran police officer told our investigator that money is also a big reason why the arrests are growing. The office explained: “As you may expect, when an innocent Muganda is arrested on allegations of inciting violence, his or her family will normally be desperate to have him freed on bail. The arresting officers and the magistrate make some quick money by charging the desperate family anywhere between Shs 150,000 and Shs 400,000 (US$74 to $198) depending on situation. They eat the money and in the books they write that the suspect has been freed on a ‘no cash’ police bond. In law this is called extortion and I know that top people in the police force know that it is going on or may even be supporting it.”
The Uganda police force is commanded by Kalyekezi Kayihura, a Rwanda national who came to Uganda as a refugee and joined Uganda police where Mr. Museveni quickly rose him to the rank of General.
October 4th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Aisha,
Thank you for this information. It must be very true because I just spoke to someone in Kampala who told me that the Monitor also reported something similar.
Also many thanks to the Baganda sources who exposed this dirty game. Please keep up the good job and continue to feed info on police persecution of Baganda to BP.
Awangaale Baffe, Beene, Nyanja Temanyirwa, Cucu, Magulunnyondo, Musota, Mutatemya, Liso Lyogi, Empologoma ya Buganda!
David Kasozi
October 6th, 2009 at 9:16 am
David,
Below is an open letter from the Uganda Civil Alliance Network to President Museveni on how the Uganda Dictator is behaving like a bull in a China shop. Just read on:
H.E. The President,
The Republic of Uganda.
The Uganda Civil Alliance Network (UCAN) is a Civil Society Network of Ugandans, that brings Ugandans and friends together to contribute to the advancement of Uganda and its people, through education in strengthening civil society, advocating and upholding the and adhering to full observance of human rights and other freedoms that that are entrenched in Chapter 4 of Uganda Constitution of 1995.
Mr. President, you are on record for having dedicated a bigger part of your life towards this cause of Human Rights, supported by other great sons and daughters of Africa, Uganda has come a long way and many Ugandans, Africa and the world at large are hopeful of our Nation’s future.
UCAN is concerned about the recent and current situation in and around Kampala where;
1) The Kabaka, the King of the Baganda was invited for a visit by the majority of the youth of His subjects. The Kabaka’s visit was prevented by your Government, contrary to Article 29(1) of the Ugandan Constitution [Freedom of Association], Article 29(2)(a) [Freedom of Movement]. The peaceful, unarmed citizens of Uganda, who also are subjects of the King of Buganda were demonstrating against quarantining their king in his Kingdom. Between the 10th and 13 of September, 2009 the Police, instead of protecting ALL citizens, used excessive lethal force of live bullets, against protesters thereby a reported 24 were killed including a thirteen year old boy and scores of people were injured in contravention of Article 22(1): PROTECTION OF RIGHT TO LIFE. The Police therefore acted as accusers, prosecutors, judges and executioners, all in one.
2) There are reports of ongoing arrests and disappearance of any bullet injured people from their hospital beds carried out by the Military Intelligence (CMI). On suspicion of having been Involved in the demonstrations, to date over 27 people have disappeared from Mulago, Rubaga and Sambya Hospitals picked by CMI contrary to Article 24:RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY AND PROTECTION FROM INHUMAN TREATMENT.
3) Mr. President, Article 29(1)(a)of the Uganda Constitution entrenches ‘freedom of speech and expression which shall include freedom of the press and other media’. In contravention of this article, the Police closed Radio CBS, and TV from broadcasting to the people, without due court processes.
4) Tribally divisive politics in contravention of Article21(1): EQUALITY AND FREEDOM FROM DISCRIMINATION, as evidenced by a letter purportedly written by Your Excellency, titled, “Guidance on the Banyoro/Bafurukyi Question” dated 15th July 2009, addressed to Hon Beatrice Wabudeya, Minister in charge of the Presidency, and published by the Monitor Newspaper of Friday 31st July 2009.
Therefore, UCAN condemn in the strongest terms;
i) Any violence perpetrated either by individuals or government against the citizens of Uganda,
ii) The use of live bullets by the Police on citizens,
iii) The senseless killings and arrest of injured innocent, un-armed citizen,
iv) The ‘switch off’ of Radio/TV broadcast, the only voices of the people,
UCAN, demands that;
a) A Judicial Commission of Inquiry be instituted on the atrocities against Humanity,
b) The perpetrators are identified, and brought to open courts. UCAN urges that whereas, the Government has the Right to enforce observance and practice of Human Rights, the Government has the Responsibility to observe and practice Human Rights under the core values of Human Dignity, Equality and Freedom.
Attached as Annexure are some of the photos of ‘Human Rights’ breaches.
Yours Faithfully,
Henry Muhwezi
Chairman – Uganda Civil Alliance Network (UCAN)