Tumwine; Bobi Wine was not Tortured but Injured During the Course of Arrest

Yesterday, Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi AKA Bobi Wine issued a statement detailing his treatment at the hands of security agencies when he was forcefully arrested in Arua a day before the by-election

In the statement, Bobi Wine said he had been arbitrarily arrested, tortured including being hit with a gun butt on his head and having his private parts molested.

Now today, Security Minister General Elly Tumwine has addressed the media giving the government’s side of the story in relation to the Bobi Wine saga.

In the statement, Tumwine said Bobi was injured in the course of arrest but had never been tortured. “When it rains, the rain doesnt hit particular people but everyone. Bobi Wine was injured in the course of arrests” 

Below, we reproduce Tumwine’s full statement as minister of security;

STATEMENT ON THE STATE OF SECURITY BY THE HON. MINISTER OF SECURITY

Rt. Hon. Speaker and Hon, Members,

1. By-elections have been held in a number of areas since the general elections of February 2016. The constituencies that have had these byeelections include; Upper Madi, Aru North, Kamuli Municipality, Jinja East, Moroto Woman MP, Toroma, Kagoma, Kyadondo East, Iganga Woman MP, Rukungiri Municipality, Ruhama county, Igara East, Iganga East, Kaboong Women MP, Kibanda North, Kibale Woman MP, Rukiga Women MP, Woman MP Pakwach, Kyotera, Namisindwa, Bunyangabu, Rubanda and Omoro. Most of these have been peaceful save for Bugiri Municipality, Jinja and Rukungiri that had incidents registered.
2. The Arua Municipality by-election was occasioned by the assassination of Hon. Col. (Rtd) Ibrahim Abiriga on Bth June,2018 at Kawanda, Wakiso District. The reception of the body of Col. Ibrahim Abiriga in Arua Town was characterized by violence, instigated by some political players, as Hon. Members of Parliament may recall. The violent manner of the late Hon. Col. Ibrahim Abiriga’s death and the outrage it caused was countrywide. Therefore, the situation in Arua was already delicate even before the by-election was conducted.
3. Following the burial of the late MP, three weeks were given for the conduct of campaigns by the candidates from 23’d Ju[ to 13th August, 2018 for this particular by-election.
4. A schedule indicating designated locations and dates for the various candidates to canvass for support was published by the Electoral Commission (EC). Some actors in the opposition opted to hold illegal processions, involving imported rowdy people who engaged in acts of hooliganism that disrupted campaigns of other competing candidates. These same rowdy crowds threatened the Wanainchi by words and actions, including physical assaults, destruction of propefi and rape because of their different political affiliations. Police continues to investigate these incidents. To disenfranchise Ugandans by impofting illegal voters from other areas is criminal because it overthrows the power of the people in the given area to elect their leaders.
5. The final day of campaigns for Arua Municipality was 13th August, 2018. Candidates had distinct rally venues on that day. However, Hon. Kassiano Wadri Ezati suppofters after being charged up by other MPs that had come to his support, were visibly disruptive of other candidates’ rallies and also engaged in violence. When their procession encountered the Presidential motorcade enroute to the airstrip to drop the President, they pelted the motorcade with offensive objects, damaging the rear screen of one of his vehicles. The procession also had earlier in the day a caterpillar (registration number UAP 064R), wrapped in red ribbons similar to the attire of the attackers and opposition political activists at Transport Junction Road. (It remains impounded at Arua Central Police station).
6. At this point, security officers interuened to contain the situation and indeed prevented it from further escalation by use of anti-riot gear. The situation was restored to normalry. Sadly however, someone who has since been identified as Mr. Yasin Kawuma, a resident of Lusanjo, Nangabo Sub County, Wakiso district, was established to have died in a Tundra vehicle registration number UAI 416K which is impounded at Arua Central Police Station as an exhibit in the investigations.
7. This unfortunate death is regrettable. Had it not been for the unruly and illegal causative conduct of some elements, it wouldnt have happened.
8. Having delivered the President to his helicopter, the security detail went back to rescue the wanainchi who were under threat from the mobs. This was done generally with a lot of restraint.
9. Thirly-three (33) suspects had to be arrested including the following:- MP for Arua Municipality, Kasiano Wadri, Members of Parliament; Paul Mwiru, Gerald Karuhaf,go, Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi and former MP Michael Mabikke among others, in connection with the Arua violence. They were on the 16th August, 2018, charged before the Chief Magistrate’s Court with Gulu for treason.
10. On the same date, Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine was arraigned before the General Couft Martial (GCM) seating in Gulu, charged on accounts of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition and remanded at Makindye Military Barracks in Kampala. While in custody, he was able to be accessed by members of his family, lawyers and personal Doctor, later on several Members of Parliament, including those from the Adhoc Committee of Parliament and the Uganda Human Rights Commission. Honorable Robert Kyagulanyi received appropriate medical attention under the care of the UPDF. He was also able to speak on phone to the Rt Hon. Speaker of Parliament, who sought to have a conversation with him.
11. On Sunday l8th August,2018, there were riots in Mityana Town that resulted into destruction of prop€fi, blocking the highway and assaulting innocent people by rioters. The intervention of the Police calmed down the situation. Unfortunately, two Policemen shot and injured a number of people. So far two have died as a result of that unfortunate incident. The Police commenced investigations and the report will soon be provided.
12. On Monday August, 19th 2018, some parts of Kampala experienced riots protesting the arrest of some Members of Parliament. Security forces interuened and these riots were contained. Over 100 suspects were arrested and investigations are ongoing. Regrettably in the process, some Security Personnel misbehaved and action by the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) has since been taken. Inquiries are expected to be concluded soon. Equally, the Police opened a General Enquiry File (GEF) to fully investigate complaints of abuse that could have occurred during the operation to contain these riots and also the violence in Arua. This will inform subsequent actions in relation to this investigation.
13. Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members, rules require us to account to this August House and it is in this regard that we offer this update. 4 a However, in the same vein as political leaders and peoples’ representatives, we need to behave responsibly. The pursuit of elective political office is premised on the idea that people can be allowed a free and unfettered opportunity and atmosphere to elect leaders of their choice. The trend of exporting trouble makers and goons to intimidate, beat up, threaten, and abuse those with differing views in order to influence the outcome of elections as happened in Jinja, Bugiri, Rukungiri and in Arua, is unacceptable and should not be tolerated. In Arua, it was even taken a notch higher by attacking the convoy of the President. It is the duty of our security forces to defend the country, its sovereignty, and territorial integrity. At the core of Sovereignty, is the Presidency and by necessary implication, the person of the President and his security and safety. This reckless trend has no place in our democracy and shall not be tolerated. Whoever engages in such conduct and other electoral and public order wrong doings will be held to account according to the law. Nobody is above the law. Every right has an implied duty and obligation. And this is the duty to enjoy one’s rights and freedoms to the extent that in doing so, you dont offend the rights and freedoms of others.
14. Members, since I made a statement on this floor two weeks 3go, new developments have taken place in the process of bringing justice to the accused:- a. on 23’d August, 2018, Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi reappeared before the General Court Martial in Gulu and the proceedings were terminated upon instructions from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
15. On the same day, he was rearrested by Police and charged before the Gulu Magistrates Court for treason alongside other thifitwo suspects. He was thereafter remanded to Uganda Government Prison – Gulu, c. On 27rh August, 2018, all the suspects including the MPs that had been arraigned in Court on charges of treason, were granted bail by the High Court Judge sitting in Gulu. d Honorable Kyagulanyi was admitted at Rubaga Hospital and so was Hon. Zaake who had escaped from lawful custody in Arua. The two MPs wanted to undergo medica! treatment abroad but they were required to be examined by government medical experts not only as per procedure of the Medical Board but also to support the ongoing Police investigations into alleged tofture as reported to the DPP by the Uganda Law Society. While Hon. Kyagulanyi cooperated with the board and was examined, Hon. Zaake only consented to medical examination after a protracted dialogue with his representatives. He was medically examined and subsequently granted bond by the Uganda Police. 6 e. 15. All these developments are a reaffirmation of the Independence of the judiciary as it dispenses justice in the country and a systematic commitment of government to uphold the rule of law.
16. I want therefore to inform the Hon Members that, the due process of the law will be followed to the letter. Honorable Members I want to take this opportunity to reassure you and the country that our security forces will remain firm and resolute in maintaining law and order throughout the country. No one is above the law and lawlessness shall not be tolerated at all. In this respect, w€ all have a collective duty to preserue our dignity as a country, with its treasured way of life of a peaceful, stable, democratic and prosperous Uganda. The security situation is now very calm and all people should continue to carry out their businesses normally.

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY

Hon. Gen. Elly Tumwine

MINISTER OF SECURITY

4th September, 2O18