‘I Don’t Want To Be Part Of People Who Think You’re Incompetent, Unfit To Be In Office’- Dep. Speaker Among Gives Security Minister Muhwezi 7 Days To Present Torture Report
By Uganda Online Media
Kampala: The deputy speaker of parliament Anita Among has given the security minister Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi one week to lay on the table the list of all security personnel that has been found to carelessly torture and kill civilians.
Anita Among directed Muhwezi to present a list detailing all reported cases of impunity and violence and the actions that the security establishment has taken against the adversely named individuals.
“Can I have a list of those people, we look at it, and the action taken? I give you one week [to present it] since you already have it,” she said.
“These things [violence by some security actors] are not good for our society; let’s instill discipline in the army and police; if somebody doesn’t know how to hold a gun, remove it from him,” she added.
The Deputy Speaker promised to dedicate a day for the plenary to exhaustively debate the matter and present solutions.
This was after legislators raised concern over the various cases of random shootings of unarmed civilians allegedly by security personnel, especially from UPDF and police.
However, in response, Muhwezi said these were criminal acts committed by individuals which government does not condone adding that such infractions earn perpetrators severe punishment.
“These cases [of violence] are reported in UPDF, Police and Uganda Wildlife Authority; these are individual criminal acts which government condemns and those that are responsible are punished; some people [the errant security operatives] have been shot…firing squad,” he said.
The deputy speaker Among at this point also asked the minister in addition to the list, to ensure he presents a statement on action taken by the responsible Ministry against the perpetrators of such crime.
A motion seeking to censure the minister hit a snug after Opposition lawmakers failed to collect the required 176 signatures.
Gen Muhwezi was accused of being incompetent and doing nothing as security operatives continued torturing Ugandans.
