The Uganda Human Rights Commission, a government human rights watchdog, has been blocked three times from inspecting the safe houses of the Joint Anti- Terrorism Task Force (JATT) in Kololo, Daily Monitor has learnt.
Highly-placed sources within the Commission told Daily Monitor on Monday that the Kitante-based military outfit has been elusive with its activities for three years, making it impossible for the human rights defenders to ascertain the condition of the detained suspects.
But the military yesterday said the human rights activists would not be accorded unconditional access to the military detention centres where, its feared, suspects are tortured and live deplorable lives.
The UHRC was established by the government to protect and promote human rights as guaranteed by the Constitution and other binding human rights instruments.
"We have had a series of meeting with JATT leaders but still they have not given us a leeway to inspect the safe houses," said a source that preferred anonymity in order to extensively discuss this matter.
"The last time we went there, they showed us only a few things and stopped our staff from accessing the other facilities. We suspect there are many people under their detention who are suffering. We are now in discussion with them, and hopefully they will allow us to inspect them," the source added.
There has been a growing local and international outcry regarding torture activities by military forces, particularly JATT.
Types of torture
After interviewing former and current prisoners, The Human Rights Watch said in its 2009 report that the forms of torture used by JATT include genital and body mutilation, tying and suspending victims from the ceiling, beatings and electrocution.
JATT is a security agency established by the government through the Anti-Terrorism Taskforce of 2002. It draws its staff from the Internal Security Organisation, the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence and the Rapid Response Unit.
In a press statement issued yesterday, Mr Med Kagwa, the chairperson of UHRC remained tight-lipped as far as the Commission's access to JATT detention centres is concerned. He said negotiations are going on to allow the commission to unconditionally inspect all military detention centres.
Although Mr Kagwa was optimistic his commission would get unconditional access to military detention centres, army spokesman, Col. Felix Kulayigye revealed that such a matter was impossible.
"They [Commission] know why we cannot allow them. They cannot just bump into us. They have always received cooperation from us but what I cannot guarantee is unconditional access. Even in your bedroom, you cannot just jump onto your bed like that. Your wife must prepare it for you to sleep."
The commission, however, visited Kampilingisa, a rehabilitation centre, where they found the facility was congested and many children at the centre lacked clothing and beddings.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Women stage EC demo at parliament
At least 30 female opposition supporters yesterday caught security off-guard and staged a sit-down demonstration at Parliament, demanding an overhaul of the Electoral Commission.
The women used the swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected Mbale Municipality member of Parliament, Mr Jack Wamanga Wamai, to sneak into Parliament to reiterate their demand for electoral reforms.
The demonstrators, mainly from the Inter-Party Cooperation (an umbrella organisation for the leading opposition parties), first wore blue FDC T-shirts in the Parliament chamber during the ceremony, which they then removed as they relocated to the foyer of the House to reveal the black 'women for peace' tops that gained popularity during their previous demonstration outside the EC last month.
The police were more restrained on this occasion, but they were present in force, with female officers matching the number of demonstrators. The women were at first silent, holding placards with slogans which read, "President Museveni, remember the reasons which took you to the bush," and, "this is a peaceful proposal: overhaul the EC."
A few metres away, several hundred supporters led by Budadiri West MP Nandala Mafabi and Mr Wamai taunted the government as they cheered the women's action. This was the second time the women had mobilised against the Eng. Badru Kiggundu-led electoral team that President Museveni reappointed last year despite allegations, separately confirmed by the Supreme Court, that the 2006 election that the team oversaw was rife with irregularities.
Ms Ingrid Turinawe, the leader of the group, said similar protests will continue throughout the country until the Electoral Commission is re-constituted. "Dr Kigunddu and other commissioners must leave because the Supreme Court ruled that they are very incompetent to organise a presidential election," Ms Turinawe said.
She also demanded the restoration of presidential term limits and the abolition of army MPs. "If we do not fight for reforms now, it will be our children who will suffer," she said. Ms Jennifer Karungi, who travelled from Hoima District to participate in the demonstration, said; "We are tired of bloodshed in Uganda. We want peace, democracy and change. Let them [Police] come and beat us; we are here."
The women were later surrounded by female police officers who snatched placards from their hands. The head of Parliament Police, Mr Elias Kasirabo, and Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander Andrew Sorowen seemed overwhelmed by the women's determination to resist their orders to vacate Parliament.
Mr Sorowen could not explain, when asked, how the women managed to stage a demonstration within the precinct of Parliament. After 30 minutes, it took the intervention of Mr Mafabi and Kitgumu District Woman MP Beatrice Anywar to convince the women to relocate to Kyambogo University playground, which Police designated as an alternative location for the demonstration. Shouting and chanting, they joined six busloads of FDC supporters and others colleagues in 10 taxis as well as several private cars ostensibly to celebrate Mr Wamai's victory.
The women used the swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected Mbale Municipality member of Parliament, Mr Jack Wamanga Wamai, to sneak into Parliament to reiterate their demand for electoral reforms.
The demonstrators, mainly from the Inter-Party Cooperation (an umbrella organisation for the leading opposition parties), first wore blue FDC T-shirts in the Parliament chamber during the ceremony, which they then removed as they relocated to the foyer of the House to reveal the black 'women for peace' tops that gained popularity during their previous demonstration outside the EC last month.
The police were more restrained on this occasion, but they were present in force, with female officers matching the number of demonstrators. The women were at first silent, holding placards with slogans which read, "President Museveni, remember the reasons which took you to the bush," and, "this is a peaceful proposal: overhaul the EC."
A few metres away, several hundred supporters led by Budadiri West MP Nandala Mafabi and Mr Wamai taunted the government as they cheered the women's action. This was the second time the women had mobilised against the Eng. Badru Kiggundu-led electoral team that President Museveni reappointed last year despite allegations, separately confirmed by the Supreme Court, that the 2006 election that the team oversaw was rife with irregularities.
Ms Ingrid Turinawe, the leader of the group, said similar protests will continue throughout the country until the Electoral Commission is re-constituted. "Dr Kigunddu and other commissioners must leave because the Supreme Court ruled that they are very incompetent to organise a presidential election," Ms Turinawe said.
She also demanded the restoration of presidential term limits and the abolition of army MPs. "If we do not fight for reforms now, it will be our children who will suffer," she said. Ms Jennifer Karungi, who travelled from Hoima District to participate in the demonstration, said; "We are tired of bloodshed in Uganda. We want peace, democracy and change. Let them [Police] come and beat us; we are here."
The women were later surrounded by female police officers who snatched placards from their hands. The head of Parliament Police, Mr Elias Kasirabo, and Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander Andrew Sorowen seemed overwhelmed by the women's determination to resist their orders to vacate Parliament.
Mr Sorowen could not explain, when asked, how the women managed to stage a demonstration within the precinct of Parliament. After 30 minutes, it took the intervention of Mr Mafabi and Kitgumu District Woman MP Beatrice Anywar to convince the women to relocate to Kyambogo University playground, which Police designated as an alternative location for the demonstration. Shouting and chanting, they joined six busloads of FDC supporters and others colleagues in 10 taxis as well as several private cars ostensibly to celebrate Mr Wamai's victory.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Gerald's story leads to Lt. Magara Prosecution
Gerald Bareebe's investigative story about Lt. Ramathan Magara, a UPDF soldier who shot at supporters of 2006 presidential candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye killing two and permanently maiming two others has won a prize.
Daily Monitor rewarded Gerald with a prize and Shs100,000for producing a spark that led to the eventual prosecution of Lt. Magara, who was sentenced to 14years in Jail
Daily Monitor rewarded Gerald with a prize and Shs100,000for producing a spark that led to the eventual prosecution of Lt. Magara, who was sentenced to 14years in Jail
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
How IPC women beat Police to stage demo
Kampala
Last Monday about 35 women from the Inter Party Cooperation (IPC), an umbrella opposition grouping, were arrested as they tried to deliver a letter to the Electoral Commission Chairman, Hajj Dr Eng. Badru Kiggundu, calling for his resignation.
In an environment where demonstrations of any variety are strongly discouraged, their “success” shows the adaptive methods the Opposition is resorting to and signal the changing face of political protest.
Ingrid Kamateneti Turinawe, the chairperson of FDC’s women’s league, who was the chief planner of the demonstration, told Inside Politics that their success showed that the State security and intelligence could be beaten.
How it unfolded
She explained that the decision to stage a women’s demonstration was introduced to IPC leaders’ summit a month before and that the IPC leaders endorsed the idea.
After the leaders’ approval, a team started organising women from different parts of the country to come to Kampala and participate in the demonstration. The aim, according to Turinawe, was to find 500 participants but because of insufficient resources only 200 women showed up.
On January 17 a meeting was convened at a secret location in Kampala where it was agreed that the demo would take place the following day.
This is different from other planned demonstrations which have a longer gestation period in that the decision was taken 24 hours before the actual event.
Every party in the IPC was asked to bring 50 women though FDC alone had about 150 women who were ready to participate in the demonstration.
However a snag was hit. Not all the women showed up for the pre-demo meeting. This compelled Turinawe and others to resort to phone calls and SMS.
Ms Turinawe said she suspected that her mobile was being tapped by police a day before the demonstration after she received numerous phone calls from senior police officers grilling her about the event.
Kampala Metropolitan Regional Police Commander, Andrew Sorowen was the first to call her. She claimed he threatened her of serious consequences if the demo went ahead. Three other “police officers” who could not reveal their identities also called her and threatened to arrest her.
“Sorowen called me and said to me: ‘Ingrid, you are trying to organise women from the village to come and undress at city square and then go to Parliament,’” she said, adding, “ But I assured him that he was behaving ignorantly.”
It appears, she said, that the Police then called women leaders from other parties like CP and JEEMA whose numbers they tapped from the numerous phone calls Ms Turinawe had made.
These women, too, were threatened against taking part in the demonstration.
Ms Turinawe said after the Police’s threats, CP women pulled out while JEEMA and UPC could each send only two women.
Final resolve
She said fearing that other women would dessert she stopped mentioning the police phone calls.
The following morning, the Police, which was not aware of the venue of the demonstration, sealed off the city square and deployed heavily along the streets going to Parliament.
However in a surprise move, the women arrived individually and gathered at Centenary Park and even had a cup of coffee by posing as ordinary customers. Each one had a bag carrying IPC T-Shirts which they would put on as they stormed the EC and a traditional cloth called leso.
The two lookouts they had placed at City Square and EC offices started giving them news. The one at City Square informed them that the anti-riot police had sealed off the whole venue while one at EC headquarters told them that only regular police were manning the EC premises. He or she also assured them that there was no sign of serious police deployment.
At this point the women, now 130 in number, decided to move. The police were unprepared. Three of the women entered the EC through the gate while others stood under the tree outside the EC offices.
Only after they had entered the EC offices did six police trucks with armed police arrive. They started beating the women arresting 33 while the rest took off at the sight of police beating
Last Monday about 35 women from the Inter Party Cooperation (IPC), an umbrella opposition grouping, were arrested as they tried to deliver a letter to the Electoral Commission Chairman, Hajj Dr Eng. Badru Kiggundu, calling for his resignation.
In an environment where demonstrations of any variety are strongly discouraged, their “success” shows the adaptive methods the Opposition is resorting to and signal the changing face of political protest.
Ingrid Kamateneti Turinawe, the chairperson of FDC’s women’s league, who was the chief planner of the demonstration, told Inside Politics that their success showed that the State security and intelligence could be beaten.
How it unfolded
She explained that the decision to stage a women’s demonstration was introduced to IPC leaders’ summit a month before and that the IPC leaders endorsed the idea.
After the leaders’ approval, a team started organising women from different parts of the country to come to Kampala and participate in the demonstration. The aim, according to Turinawe, was to find 500 participants but because of insufficient resources only 200 women showed up.
On January 17 a meeting was convened at a secret location in Kampala where it was agreed that the demo would take place the following day.
This is different from other planned demonstrations which have a longer gestation period in that the decision was taken 24 hours before the actual event.
Every party in the IPC was asked to bring 50 women though FDC alone had about 150 women who were ready to participate in the demonstration.
However a snag was hit. Not all the women showed up for the pre-demo meeting. This compelled Turinawe and others to resort to phone calls and SMS.
Ms Turinawe said she suspected that her mobile was being tapped by police a day before the demonstration after she received numerous phone calls from senior police officers grilling her about the event.
Kampala Metropolitan Regional Police Commander, Andrew Sorowen was the first to call her. She claimed he threatened her of serious consequences if the demo went ahead. Three other “police officers” who could not reveal their identities also called her and threatened to arrest her.
“Sorowen called me and said to me: ‘Ingrid, you are trying to organise women from the village to come and undress at city square and then go to Parliament,’” she said, adding, “ But I assured him that he was behaving ignorantly.”
It appears, she said, that the Police then called women leaders from other parties like CP and JEEMA whose numbers they tapped from the numerous phone calls Ms Turinawe had made.
These women, too, were threatened against taking part in the demonstration.
Ms Turinawe said after the Police’s threats, CP women pulled out while JEEMA and UPC could each send only two women.
Final resolve
She said fearing that other women would dessert she stopped mentioning the police phone calls.
The following morning, the Police, which was not aware of the venue of the demonstration, sealed off the city square and deployed heavily along the streets going to Parliament.
However in a surprise move, the women arrived individually and gathered at Centenary Park and even had a cup of coffee by posing as ordinary customers. Each one had a bag carrying IPC T-Shirts which they would put on as they stormed the EC and a traditional cloth called leso.
The two lookouts they had placed at City Square and EC offices started giving them news. The one at City Square informed them that the anti-riot police had sealed off the whole venue while one at EC headquarters told them that only regular police were manning the EC premises. He or she also assured them that there was no sign of serious police deployment.
At this point the women, now 130 in number, decided to move. The police were unprepared. Three of the women entered the EC through the gate while others stood under the tree outside the EC offices.
Only after they had entered the EC offices did six police trucks with armed police arrive. They started beating the women arresting 33 while the rest took off at the sight of police beating
Besigye says he is still the man to beat Museveni
Kampala
Dr Kizza Besigye, who lost to President Museveni in the 2001 and 2006 elections, has asked for a chance to take on the incumbent for the third time.
Dr Besigye was speaking in Kampala on Saturday morning as part of his campaign for re-election as FDC president – which would make him the opposition party’s candidate in next year’s election.
The opposition leader took 29 per cent of the vote in 2001 when he stood under the Reform Agenda pressure group, and 37 per cent in 2006 when he stood under the FDC umbrella.
The Supreme Court found widespread irregularities in both elections but ruled, in 2006, that these were not substantial enough to change the outcome of the result.
Dr Besigye yesterday sought to reassure party supporters that he can be an electable candidate on the third attempt.
“People say to me that you have been a candidate twice and lost,” Besigye said yesterday, “but I did not lose. You lose a free and fair election and there has never been one.
“In all elections that we have had, court decided that they were not free and fair; it’s not me but the court which decided. Our problem has not been popular support, it has been the system.”
Dr Besigye, who is set to start a four-day campaign in Bunyoro sub-region today, indicated that he would be running on a ticket to end wastage of public resources and establish a clean and efficient government.
He said: “We shall radically cut down the size of this government. Even those who are supporting us; don’t expect us to reward you with ministerial positions. We shall dismantle the patronage system which has been created by NRM and our government will always be supported by the popular support at the bottom but not power-brokers.”
Dr Besigye served in the Bush War that brought Museveni to power in 1986, and also served in government until 1999 when he broke ranks with the NRM administration which he accused of betraying the ideals of restoring good governance and democracy which had inspired the war in the first place.
The official, who retired from the army at the rank of colonel, said he would professionalise the army if elected. He said President Museveni, who ran in 2001 on the ticket of professionalising the army, had failed to do so, and was instead presiding over an army in which a disproportionate amount of resources is spent on the Presidential Guard Brigade.
“We shall improve the welfare of the people who serve in the forces. The military has been a source of power for the NRM but our soldiers still live in shacks,” he said.
He also promised to double teachers’ salaries to Shs400,000 per month, improve the welfare of medical workers across the country, and invest in agricultural research.
Respect for Muntu
Dr Besigye also said he has the “highest respect” for his rival for the FDC top job, former army commander Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu.“We have struggled shoulder-to-shoulder together but we are talking about an election where people have to decide who to lead them,” Besigye said.
“I am happy Gen. Muntu is launching himself. I do not need to launch myself because I have been around for a while and majority of Ugandans know who I am, and frankly this is the strongest part of our campaign. By the time Gen. Muntu stops launching himself the campaign will be over.”
He added: “I think Gen. Muntu is doing a good thing to come out but we are talking about an election which is 12 months away. I have always told members of FDC who aspire to lead the party to come up. We must have a large pool of national leaders within our party. As you know I am serving my last term as the party president, we must have people who are ready to take the party forward.”
The FDC election will be held in April during the party’s delegates’ conference. Although opposition parties under the Inter-Party Cooperation are mulling the idea of sponsoring a joint candidate, whoever wins the contest between Dr Besigye and Maj. Gen. Muntu is likely to lead that alliance by virtue of the FDC being the largest opposition party.
President Museveni’s position as the NRM candidate in the next election is all but guaranteed after the party’s top leaders endorsed the candidate, who will mark 24 years in power on Tuesday, as their flag bearer in the 2011 election.
Dr Kizza Besigye, who lost to President Museveni in the 2001 and 2006 elections, has asked for a chance to take on the incumbent for the third time.
Dr Besigye was speaking in Kampala on Saturday morning as part of his campaign for re-election as FDC president – which would make him the opposition party’s candidate in next year’s election.
The opposition leader took 29 per cent of the vote in 2001 when he stood under the Reform Agenda pressure group, and 37 per cent in 2006 when he stood under the FDC umbrella.
The Supreme Court found widespread irregularities in both elections but ruled, in 2006, that these were not substantial enough to change the outcome of the result.
Dr Besigye yesterday sought to reassure party supporters that he can be an electable candidate on the third attempt.
“People say to me that you have been a candidate twice and lost,” Besigye said yesterday, “but I did not lose. You lose a free and fair election and there has never been one.
“In all elections that we have had, court decided that they were not free and fair; it’s not me but the court which decided. Our problem has not been popular support, it has been the system.”
Dr Besigye, who is set to start a four-day campaign in Bunyoro sub-region today, indicated that he would be running on a ticket to end wastage of public resources and establish a clean and efficient government.
He said: “We shall radically cut down the size of this government. Even those who are supporting us; don’t expect us to reward you with ministerial positions. We shall dismantle the patronage system which has been created by NRM and our government will always be supported by the popular support at the bottom but not power-brokers.”
Dr Besigye served in the Bush War that brought Museveni to power in 1986, and also served in government until 1999 when he broke ranks with the NRM administration which he accused of betraying the ideals of restoring good governance and democracy which had inspired the war in the first place.
The official, who retired from the army at the rank of colonel, said he would professionalise the army if elected. He said President Museveni, who ran in 2001 on the ticket of professionalising the army, had failed to do so, and was instead presiding over an army in which a disproportionate amount of resources is spent on the Presidential Guard Brigade.
“We shall improve the welfare of the people who serve in the forces. The military has been a source of power for the NRM but our soldiers still live in shacks,” he said.
He also promised to double teachers’ salaries to Shs400,000 per month, improve the welfare of medical workers across the country, and invest in agricultural research.
Respect for Muntu
Dr Besigye also said he has the “highest respect” for his rival for the FDC top job, former army commander Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu.“We have struggled shoulder-to-shoulder together but we are talking about an election where people have to decide who to lead them,” Besigye said.
“I am happy Gen. Muntu is launching himself. I do not need to launch myself because I have been around for a while and majority of Ugandans know who I am, and frankly this is the strongest part of our campaign. By the time Gen. Muntu stops launching himself the campaign will be over.”
He added: “I think Gen. Muntu is doing a good thing to come out but we are talking about an election which is 12 months away. I have always told members of FDC who aspire to lead the party to come up. We must have a large pool of national leaders within our party. As you know I am serving my last term as the party president, we must have people who are ready to take the party forward.”
The FDC election will be held in April during the party’s delegates’ conference. Although opposition parties under the Inter-Party Cooperation are mulling the idea of sponsoring a joint candidate, whoever wins the contest between Dr Besigye and Maj. Gen. Muntu is likely to lead that alliance by virtue of the FDC being the largest opposition party.
President Museveni’s position as the NRM candidate in the next election is all but guaranteed after the party’s top leaders endorsed the candidate, who will mark 24 years in power on Tuesday, as their flag bearer in the 2011 election.
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