President Museveni has blamed the torture of novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija and other incarcerated supporters of the opposition on traditional ideas and colonialism that took place in 1800 – 1960s.
According to president Museveni , during colonial times, colonial security officers used a lot of torture and inhumane tactics to get information from Africans, setting a precedent which some elements in security still embrace till today.
President Museveni made the remarks while replying to a question from Voice of America’s Peter Clottey, during a one on one exclusive interview on Friday.
Asked to comment on Kakwenza’s, and other critics’ torture allegations, Museveni said that he has confirmed some incidents of torture although he had not yet followed up on the former’s case.
“It is true that some people were tortured. I have not confirmed on that one (Kakwenza), but I have confirmed some other cases, and I took it up,” Museveni said.
Adding, “You see, part of the problems of Africa is capacity building, we are building armies and security forces. These sometimes come with traditional ideas from the village or they get imported ideas from the former colonialists. For instance, the Police Force which was here during the colonial times; they were using those methods.”
Museveni reiterated his stand on torture, saying that it is not necessary and said that sensitization is going on within Uganda’s forces.
“The laws are there, but the sensitization to tell them that first of all, torture is not necessary,” he said.
Uganda’s human rights image has for the past few years been deteriorating, with a number of government critics coming out to claim that they had been arrested and tortured, with majority having physical wounds and scars to show for it.
One of the latest incidents that captured the country’s media-space was the torture of writer Kakwenza, who presented several scars on his back and lower body after his stint in incarceration.
Kakwenza was arrested in December 2021 and charged with offensive communication for using social media to disturb the peace of President Museveni and his son, Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
