Tinyefuza torture victim goes to rights body

By Hillary KiiryaA POLICE officer who was allegedly tortured by Lt. Gen. David Tinyefuza at Kabalagala Police station has filed a complaint at the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) seeking compensation.Corporal Peter Okalang through his lawyer Elias Lukwago of Lukwago and Alaka Company Advocates, filed the complaint on Monday.In his complaint, Okalang states that “while on duty as commander of a Mobile Police Patrol Unit vehicle, he received information from Kabalagala police station that there was commotion there. But I found Tinyefuza and his bodyguard at the station.”He added, “While at the station, two vehicles came with eight soldiers who Tinyefunza ordered to beat me up. They took away my gun and got sticks from their vehicles and started torturing me.” Okalang said, “Tinyefuza accused me of being an anyanya (meaning men accused of iling people during the Obote 11 regime). Tinyefuza said I am Besigye’s, Tiberondwa’s, Rwakasisi’s and Kony’s man from Apac.” Okalang also claims that Tinyefuza ordered his bodyguards to shoot him but they declined to do so. He said the soldiers threw him onto their vehicle.“They undressed me and I remained in only my underwear. They stepped on my head and back while others beat me on the buttocks, thighs and back. one of them sympathised with me and told the others to leave me because I was innocent,” Okalang said.He said the Police mobile group was disarmed and driven to Makindye Military barracks.