Inmates at Nyamushekyera government prison in Bushenyi district have reported the continued torture they suffer during arrest by police officers.
They revealed this on Wednesday while meeting the Principal Judge, Yorokamu Bamwine at the prison facility in Bushenyi.
One of the female inmates while representing her colleagues reported that a police officer identified as Corporal Charles Tukahirwa attached to Sheema police station has established a torture chamber in Sheema district.
“Our Lord, we have a man who was burnt by a jerrycan by a police officer,” the inmate said before asking the ‘tortured’ inmate to undress themselves and reveal the injuries to the Principal Judge.
Bamwine condemned the act and asked for investigations into the matter.
“Even in Mbarara, we were told that when Police is arresting, they confiscate property which has nothing to do with the crime. Where would they be taking those things? the Principal Judge wondered.
He added that courts will embark on hearing cases of gender based violence beginning with next week.
“Nobody should be tortured. Anyone should be presumed innocent until proved otherwise,” said Bamwine.
Earlier, the Chief Justice, Bart Katureebe warned security operatives against torturing suspects which he said go against the suspects’ constitutional rights stipulated under Article 44 of the Ugandan constitution.
The Police spokesperson for Greater Bushenyi, SP Martial Tumusiime while commenting on the allegations raised against Corporal Charles Tukahirwa said that if found to be culpable, he will be brought to book.
“If Tukahirwa tortured those suspects, we are going to follow it up so that he is taken to court. I am assuring you, nobody is above the law,” SP Tumusiime said.
However, Tumusiime added that in the event that the allegations by the inmates are aimed at tainting the image of the Police, the individual inamtes will be charged again for giving false information.
“If there are some people claiming torture and give false information to our Principal Judge, I am assuring you that after investigations discover that the inmates are the ones in the wrong, then we shall charge them with a second case of giving false information”.
