Police denies torturing Rwenzururu royals guards

Dec 29, 2016

He said that the Kasese uprising was an attack on the state

The Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura speaks to journalists during a press conference at the police headquarters. PHOTO: Eddie Ssejjoba

The Inspector General of Police, Kale Kayihura has rejected claims that the police tortured and inflicted deep wounds on the Rwenzururu Kingdom royal guards.

He said that the guards sustained the wounds during the violent clashes between them and security operatives in Kasese district.

Mid this month, the Chief Magistrate Jinja court, John Francis Kaggwa ordered an investigation into the torture claims by the guards' lawyers after they were brought in court looking frail, unkempt and with rotting wounds.

Giving his maiden comment on the clashes where so far over 150 people have been arrested, Kayihura said that police has a good record and it could never have tortured the suspects.

"The injuries could have been caused by fire burns and the gunfight but not the police. If you do not know, we have a very clean record, even before the human rights commission," he said.

He said that the Kasese uprising was an attack on the state but declined to explain further, arguing that the case is before court and he could be acting in contempt by further divulging more information.

Kayihura said that they have tightened security in the area to ensure that no further attack sprouts and that the locals have been cooperative.

"People are cooperating with police and so far we have recovered two rifles that were earlier stolen from us," he said.

Speaking at the weekly police press briefing in Naguru, he revealed that the will pull out of the area when investigations are complete.

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