Parliament has asked cabinet to investigate security organs over allegations of torture of Members of Parliament and other victims of Arua mayhem.
The decision was reached after the presentation of Adhoc Committee report on the investigations into the condition of MPs and other suspects arrested ahead of the Arua Municipality by-election.
On August 15, Parliament delegated six legislators to witness the trial of Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine in Gulu court martial and other suspects who were due to appear in Gulu Magistrates Court.
In the absence of the committee chairperson Doreen Amule, the report was presented by Mitooma district woman MP Jovah Kamateeka.
The Committee recommended that individuals and state institutions that were involved in the abuse of human rights and dignity be punished.
“The military and other errant state functionaries that are complicit in violating the law and eroding human rights and dignity should account for their actions,” the report reads in part.
However, legislators expressed mixed reactions to some of the recommendations, with some tasking government to adhere to the recommendation to prosecute the security agents involved.
The Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah, told MPs that government needed to be given time to investigate the matter citing the example of former Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura, who is facing trial in the military court.
“I propose that the house resolves that those individuals that are complicit should be investigated, prosecuted and punished, Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda, will report to the House on the actions taken within one month,” he said.
“We needed the committee to visit the initial site of the problem, I have not seen a report of this committee talking with President Museveni who was the first victim pelted with stones,” Ruhakana Rugunda said.
Rugunda commended the prompt action of security organs that contained the situation in Arua and Kampala, adding that government would leave no stone unturned in its investigations.
The Leader of the Opposition, Betty Aol Ocan, however, recounted her visit to the two MPs saying they suffered injuries inflicted upon them by security agents.
“We went to Makindye Barracks and were chased away like dogs. We then went to Rubaga Hospital and found Hon. Zaake who had been tortured,” Aol noted.
Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo said since the two legislators were given clearance to travel abroad for treatment, it was evidence that they had suffered torture.
“We are aware that the MPs were referred abroad by competent doctors like Dr. Ssekitoleko of Rubaga Hospital after conducting tests on them. Government doctors who examined them at Kiruddu Hospital also gave them a go-ahead,” Ssekikubo said.
The alleged torture of some of the 26 arrested persons and MPs followed a chaotic turn of events at the last day of campaigns in the Arua Municipality by-election to replace fallen former MP Col. Ibrahim Abiriga.