By Francis Jjunju

President Yoweri Museveni has cautioned security agencies against the use of torture in order to extract confessions from suspects.

In a letter dated May 15, copied to the Chief of Defence Forces, The Inspector General of Police and the Director General of Intelligence Services Museveni said torture of suspects is unnecessary, wrong and has possible mistakes that may interfere with the fight against crime.

He points out that the wrong person or somebody who is totally innocent may be unfairly tortured and that sometimes, somebody may admit guilt just to be spared from torture.

Museveni says even if the suspects do not admit their guilt, criminals can get convicted if the investigators do their work well through finger-prints, photographs, DNA tests, eye-witnesses accounts and the use of other scientific methods.

The letter comes barely a week after glaring images emerged of the Kamwenge town council chairperson Geoffrey Byamukama who was reportedly tortured in the hands of the Police while in detention at Nalufenya police station in Jinja.

Several other suspects charged in the recent murder of police commander Andrew Kaweesi recently complained in court of being beaten while at the same facility.

Police Spokesperson Asan Kasingye acknowledged that Byamukama was tortured by police officers, who have since been arrested to answer for their sins.


Tuesday 16th May 2017 08:34:06 PM