Released Uganda MPs tell of ‘terrible torture’ at the hands of police

Ugandan legislators who were on Monday granted bail have come out to speak about their ordeals at the hands of the government.

Two of legislators who had been incarcerated for 10 days; Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) and  Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake will be flown to the Royal London Hospital for treatment.

Speaking to the Ugandan media outside Gulu High Court, Jinja East MP Paul Mwiru narrated how he was constantly roughed up without being informed of the offence he had committed.

“That this was anything to do with the presidential car is a lie. We had our rally in Oli division, the president had his rally in the Arua hill division. We did not meet anywhere,” said Mwiru.

“In the interests of the country, we have forgiven the president for perpetuating this torture. I think the intention was to break the spirit; he can only break our bodies but he can’t break the spirit.”

He further added that none of the legislators was arrested at the scene of crime, but that police officers broke into their hotel rooms.

Ntungamo Municipality MP Gerald Karuhanga, on the other hand, added that they were “tortured terribly.”

“Even when we were handed over to police, Special Forces Command (SFC) tried to pick us three times but we are now much stronger than we were before,” he stated.

Kassiano Wadri, Arua MP-elect, walked out of the courtroom with a sigh of relief saying, “After two weeks of incarceration, I finally have my freedom.”

One of the bail terms restricts Wadri from appearing in his constituency for three months.

Former Forum for Democratic Change president Kizza Besigye condemned the treatment meted to the arrested legislators and Ugandan citizens after two collapsed during the court proceedings.

“This has been a shame to our country right from the time these people were kidnapped and tortured. Our eyes have been focusing on a few visible leaders but more people are actually in terrible condition,” said Besigye.

According to Uganda’s Daily Monitor, Mr. Zaake could suffer “permanent disability” quoting the executive director of Lubaga Hospital who warned in a confidential medical report shared with the patient’s family and the authorities in Parliament.