The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have topped the list of perpetrators of torture against the civilian population in the country, according to a new report.
The report by the African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTV) titled, “Hope in The Midst of Uncertainty,” indicates that at least 257 people were allegedly tortured by the army in 2020.
Out of the over 250 who were reportedly tortured by the members of the armed forces, 34 of them were blamed on Local Defence Personnel (LDUs).
In total, 960 were tortured in 2020 in which the army was responsible for 39.1 percent of the cases registered, making it overtake the Uganda Police Force (UPF) which for over a decade had continuously topped the list of perpetrators of torture.
According to the report, those tortured included 527 males and 433 females, among whom were 37 children (16 males and 21 females).
Other perpetrators of torture were Uganda Police Force (UPF) 327, private individuals (103), local council officials (14) and LRA rebels (149).
Others are prison warders (76), prison inmates (21), clan leaders (15), intelligence agencies (11), and private security guards (7).
Of the torture victims, 92 were foreign nationals from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Sudan and Burundi. They were reportedly tortured by security agencies and rebel groups.
The sharp rise in cases of torture in the country was blamed on the enforcement of COVID-19 rules. The cases were registered in Gulu, Kampala, Kasese and Karamoja sub region.
In August, President Yoweri Museveni warned security agencies against torturing suspects. He said he will not tolerate acts of torture on Ugandans. The President blamed acts of torture on individual officers and the failure of senior commanders to instruct junior officers on what should and shouldn’t be done.
Army Overtakes Police In Torture—Report
By James Owich
