I have reservations about Locuge’s letter over snakes and crocodiles
Feb 24, 2003
SIR— I read the letter, “What is Maj Kazoora up to?†by Simon Locuge of Siso, Kabong, in your Tuesday issue with reservations.
SIR— I read the letter, “What is Maj Kazoora up to?†by Simon Locuge of Siso, Kabong, in your Tuesday issue with reservations.
Whereas Mr Locuge is free to express his disappointment that “a highly educated and an original member of the NRA†would make allegations of torture chambers with snakes and crocodiles, I wish to remind him that the allegation was not raised by Maj Kazoora alone. Michael Mabikke, the MP for Makindye East, Isa Kikungwe, the MP for Kyadondo South and Geoffrey Ekanya, the MP for Tororo County, were quoted to have voiced their concerns on the issue as well.
What would be most important now for us all as Ugandans is not to be told which side of the coin Kazoora is on, but an assurance from the UPDF of a thorough investigation into these alleged torture chambers before they can be dismissed as baseless.
It is, for instance, not relevant for the author to argue that because Kazoora once held
a high position in ISO some years ago, he should be put to task to tell Ugandans whether he ever budgeted for snakes and crocodiles for torture services. The writer must appreciate that times have changed.
Furthermore, the challenges of today are not those of yesterday.
It is therefore pertinent to call on the Government and in this case the UPDF and not Ugandans, to build and strengthen those institutions that will ensure that the Constitution is upheld.
There is an urgent need for the UPDF to re-build the confidence of the ordinary Ugandan in its intelligence departments whose activities may be questionable.
Lawrence Okumu
Soroti
Whereas Mr Locuge is free to express his disappointment that “a highly educated and an original member of the NRA†would make allegations of torture chambers with snakes and crocodiles, I wish to remind him that the allegation was not raised by Maj Kazoora alone. Michael Mabikke, the MP for Makindye East, Isa Kikungwe, the MP for Kyadondo South and Geoffrey Ekanya, the MP for Tororo County, were quoted to have voiced their concerns on the issue as well.
What would be most important now for us all as Ugandans is not to be told which side of the coin Kazoora is on, but an assurance from the UPDF of a thorough investigation into these alleged torture chambers before they can be dismissed as baseless.
It is, for instance, not relevant for the author to argue that because Kazoora once held
a high position in ISO some years ago, he should be put to task to tell Ugandans whether he ever budgeted for snakes and crocodiles for torture services. The writer must appreciate that times have changed.
Furthermore, the challenges of today are not those of yesterday.
It is therefore pertinent to call on the Government and in this case the UPDF and not Ugandans, to build and strengthen those institutions that will ensure that the Constitution is upheld.
There is an urgent need for the UPDF to re-build the confidence of the ordinary Ugandan in its intelligence departments whose activities may be questionable.
Lawrence Okumu
Soroti