Summary:
- Ssemujju’s concerns about police brutality come at a time when young Ugandans, arrested during the March to Parliament demonstrations in July 2024, accused the police of sodomizing and torturing them during arrest and detention.
KAMPALA: Kira Municipality MP Ssemujju Nganda has demanded that the government explain why he and other members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) were brutally arrested and tortured while attempting to deliver a protest note to the Kenyan High Commission in Uganda.
They were subsequently dumped in a police van that Ssemujju claims is used to carry dead dogs, driven by an officer who appeared to be under the influence of drugs.
“Yesterday, I was brutally arrested while we were taking a protest note to the Kenyan High Commission in Uganda regarding our colleagues who were kidnapped and tortured in Kenya. Instead of being heard, we were met with angry policemen. We were dumped into a vehicle that looks like it carries dead dogs, driven by someone who behaves like they are on drugs. We thank God we survived,” said Ssemujju.
Ssemujju continued, “Nicholas Kamara (MP for Kabale Municipality) and I, along with our colleagues, were charged with public nuisance. It’s absurd that two MPs delivering a protest note to the Kenyan embassy are considered a public nuisance. The Kenyan embassy is not a Ugandan kiosk; we even go there to receive visas. Last week, when I raised this matter, the Attorney General said he couldn’t explain it. When I went to Kenya to seek an explanation, we were arrested and beaten. Do they want us to go to heaven?”
“I need an explanation from the government. People kidnapped from Kenya and beaten… this government, led by a so-called ‘freedom fighter’ from Luwero, now has MPs being brutally arrested, seated in the mud, and charged with public nuisance. Maybe Museveni has changed, and we have someone else in his place. Why are we being mistreated in our own country?” Ssemujju questioned.
Ssemujju’s concerns about police brutality come at a time when young Ugandans, arrested during the March to Parliament demonstrations in July 2024, accused the police of sodomizing and torturing them during arrest and detention. MP Hassan Kirumira (Katikamu South) also accused the police of throwing him into a van with pigs following his recent arrest, an action he described as extremely degrading given his Muslim faith.
In response, Attorney General Kiwanuka Kiryowa stated that he would investigate what Ssemujju was doing that led to his being charged with public nuisance. He reminded Ssemujju that being an MP does not exempt him from being declared a public nuisance by law enforcement agencies.
“I find it interesting that Ssemujju, a Member of Parliament, was charged with public nuisance. According to the law, even an honorable Member of Parliament can be a public nuisance. We will investigate what Ssemujju was doing and provide advice,” said Kiwanuka.
It should be noted that the colonial-era law on public nuisance was declared unconstitutional by courts. Both the Directorate of Public Prosecution and the judiciary have faced criticism for charging and remanding peaceful protesters under this nullified law.
Last Tuesday, thirty-six FDC leaders were arrested in Kisumu, Kenya. They have since been charged with terrorism in Ugandan courts and remanded to Luzira prison.
