President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has cautioned some individuals in the Military and Police against violating human rights saying their dirty actions dents the image of security services and also undermine the credibility of Court cases against criminals.
Many times, in the past suspects battling capital offences have appeared in Court rooms with grave injuries all over their bodies sustained during interrogation sessions.
However, the President in his security address on Saturday night said such methods of extracting information from suspects are used by “lazy and undisciplined” investigators.
‘‘Evidence through torture is not reliable. Torture is unnecessary and wrong. It must not be used again if at all it was being used like I see some groups claim in the media,’’ he said.
This approach, Museveni says, derails criminal proceedings during prosecution in courts of law.
‘‘Someone may admit guilt yet he is innocent and the real criminal escapes. Confessions by criminals are not necessary if investigators do their work well. You can use facts and circumstantial evidence,’’ he added.
But the President maintained that criminals are architects of their own trouble.
‘‘Why do you beat a prisoner? …but I don’t agree with these legal fellows. Maybe the torture was a mistake but then the crime was a bigger mistake by these confused people (suspected criminals),’’ he said.
November Killings
Museveni further responded to the shoot out in Kampala which occurred last year in November as security forces combated a ring of protests which broke out following the arrest of opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine in Eastern Uganda.
‘‘The only ones that faced our fire were those defending or promoting illegitimate interests including dictators denying people free elections like the NUP party that was using terrorism and intimidation.’’
“Killing is only in battle or by order of court. No killing prisoners. No assassinations as they are used by bankrupt people not sure of their political positions.”
On managing protests, Museveni advised:
‘‘It is a strategic mistake to shoot someone that has already been arrested or one that has surrendered. If anybody makes a mistake, they will be arrested. This is an army that must use revolutionary beliefs,’’ he said.
He insisted that any security official found soiling the image of the NRM by torturing suspects will not be spared.
‘‘Nobody should be in uniform (of armed forces) without respecting Ugandans. You are not allowed to beat anyone…not even criminals,’’ Museveni reiterated.