Museveni's "clear-headed" government is the greatest danger to democracy and freedom in Uganda today. In its use of torture and wanton abuse of human rights -- in addition to total disregard of the provisions of it's own Constitution -- there is no difference between it and thee regimes of Obote and Amin.
Totalitarianism by any name, e.g. Movement, is still plain old dictatorship.
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Subject: ugnet_: Security use snakes to force confession
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 23:00:24 EST
Security use snakes to force confessions
By Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda
MPs claim even crocodiles used
Security organs are using snakes and crocodiles to make treason suspects
confess, Parliament heard yesterday.
The treatment of suspects detained in alleged torture chambers dominated
debate as Parliament resumed work from a long Christmas and New Year holiday.
Kashari MP John Kazoora informed the House that he had received reports that
suspects are dumped into cages of snakes and crocodiles.
“As Parliament, we must do something,” Mr. Kazoora said.
Holding a copy of the latest Uganda Human Rights Commission magazine, Kazoora
drew the attention of Speaker Edward Ssekandi to “unconstitutional arrests
and detentions that happened during the recess”.
His submission was supported by Tororo County MP Geoffrey Ekanya.
Mr. Ekanya began on rather a low tone but turned angry and spoke with a lot
of energy when it came to arrests.
He said most of the people arrested belong to the Reform Agenda, a political
pressure group formed by supporters of former presidential candidate Kizza
Besigye.
A visibly furious Mr. Ekanya said in some cases, the suspects' private parts
are exposed before they are tortured.
Makindye East MP Michael Mabikke got on to a rather bad start when Aruu MP
Odonga Otto suggested disciplinary action against him for bragging about “
interfering” in Kenya elections.
Mr. Mabikke redeemed himself when he addressed himself to the issue of
torture that is allegedly going on in the ‘safe houses’.
Mr. Mabikke said Ugandans had hope in the Movement and that it is very
unfortunate that the regime is slowly following in the footsteps of former
president Idi Amin.
“It has surpassed¼,” chorused some MPs.
Mr. Mabikke spoilt things for himself again when he alleged that the 23
percent budget cut from ministry budgets was used to buy snakes and
crocodiles.
Minister of Defence Amama Mbabazi raised a point of order and asked Speaker
Ssekandi whether Mr. Mabikke was in order to allege that the extra budget
provision extended to the Defence ministry was for establishing cages and to
fill them with snakes.
Mr. Mabikke replied by telling Mr. Mbabazi that most “of these things
happened when the minister was busy in Kinkizi West campaigning against
himself”.
Mr. Mbabazi’s supporters in Parliament got angry with Mr. Mabikke, and the
first to protest with a point of order was Victoria Sebagereka (Kayunga).
Because no ruling had been made about Mr. Mbabazi’s earlier point of order,
hers was simply ignored.
Mr. Isa Kikungwe (Kyaddondo South) came to the rescue of his Democratic Party
colleague and said Lt. Dan Mugarura had the worst of his life during
detention.
He said Lt. Mugarura remained blindfolded for four nights before his
tormentor unleashed red ants unto him.
He said the man was finally ushered into a room with big snakes ready to bite
and he accepted working with Besigye.
Mr. Mbabazi denied that such things were happening. He said although he doesn’
t believe in the story, he would investigate it.
National Political Commissar Dr. Crispus Kiyonga said he was in touch with
some senior Reform Agenda activists and that they admit that some of their
members support violence.
February 12, 2003 12:41:50
