Tonight, I feel like becoming a real "terrorist"! This is the effect of
endless acts of impunity on the part of the Uganda Police. When the
people assigned the responsibility of maintaining law and order become
deliberate and arrogant law breakers, where does one turn to?
The
day (Thursday 25th Feb 2016) started on a bright side, with a visit by
my colleague Maj Gen (rtd) Benon Biraro, who shared a number of ideas on
how our country could be put back on rails.
I was also expecting a
visit from some Human Rights defenders, including Ms Maria Burnett of
the Human Rights Watch. These visitors had come to see me the previous
day but were blocked by the police at the barricade they erected on the
driveway to our home. In spite of sending my aide to plead with the
police (since I couldn't be allowed to get there myself), they were
turned away after waiting for more than 2hrs. They were, instead, asked
to come back today at 9am.
The Human Rights defenders, who arrived
at the police blockade at 8.45am, eventually left about 10am without
seeing me. After the usual lengthy "consultations", that involve talking
to the top police commanders, my visitors were told that they won't be
allowed to see me!
Shortly after 10am, some visitors, who hadn't
informed me of their visit (a normal occurrence), arrived at the police
blockade in a minibus from Kakiri, in our District of Wakiso.
As
they inquired from the police whether they could be allowed in to see
me, the goons that man the notorious police van UP 4860 sprung into
action. They opened the minibus, pulled out two of the occupants and
threw them into their van. The driver of the minibus quickly reversed
and sped off with the other visitors.
At 11am, I made my attempt at
leaving home for Najjanankumbi, our party headquarters. As before, I was
told that I wasn't allowed to move out. When I insisted, I was arrested
and pushed into the notorious van.
Here, I found two terrified men
that were in immense pain. The van had a strong smell of pepper spray
that immediately made my sore throat worse and affected my eyes. The two
men informed me that they had been badly beaten and pepper-sprayed
while in the van.
One of the men held in the van, named Jamilu Budde
(whom I know) was crying with pain and holding his left arm in a manner
that suggested he could have had a broken collar bone.
I pleaded
with the "Commander" of the van, one Assistant Superintendent of Police
(ASP) Kidandi to let me help Budde with First Aid and get him taken to
the clinic, but this was denied. Instead, the two men were roughly
thrown off the van and I was carried away alone.
After driving
through Matugga, Kawempe, Mpererwe, Kisaasi, Northern Bypass, and
Naalya, I was deposited in Kira Division police Hqs. This is where I
stayed until I was given a bond and "released" at about 9pm.
I made
it clear, like before, that if the reason they arrested still existed,
then they should keep me in detention. Otherwise, once freed, I should
be truly free and not expect the police to detain me at my home. As
before, I was told that I'd no choice but to be taken back home.
I
am now back home and, as before, detained there! I tried as much as I
could, unsuccessfully, to demand that they take me to a proper
(gazatted) detention place or let me free. My sore throat was worsened
by the pepper spray I found in the van. I informed my captors about this
and that I would do well to consult my physician. All this fell on deaf
ears.
I have since found out that Mr Budde and his colleague, who
were tortured and left on our home's driveway earlier, were later
briefly held at Kasangati Police Station and later transferred to Kireka
Police. Mr Budde hasn't had any medical attention that I am sure he
badly needs.
This is the dilemma of leaving in a country governed by
a rogue regime. This is the very reason I wake up early everyday to do
something about it. I am confident that, by the Grace of God, we shall
overcome.
One Uganda, One People!!
No comments:
Post a Comment