Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Lawyers from Wameli and Company Advocates have petitioned the High Court in Kampala for an order for the release of eight suspects currently in prison for participating in a shooting targeted at Works Minister Gen Edward Katumba Wamala.
The said persons were arrested between June 24 and July 2, 2021, for orchestrating and participating in the shooting at former CDF Gen Katumba, that happened on June 1, 2021, along Kisota road, Kisaasi. Those in custody include Sheikh Yusuf Siraji Nyanzi, Hussein Sserubula, Muhammad Kagugube, Kamada Walusimbi, Siriman Ayuub Kisambira , Abdulaziz Ramathan Dunku, Habib Ramanthan Marjan and Huzaifa Wampa.
They have been jointly charged with terrorism, the murder of Brenda Nantongo, a daughter to General Katumba Wamala and his driver Haruna Kayondo, among others. But the lawyers say that the suspects, who were arrested have been tortured while in state custody. The lawyers add that apart from physical harm, the suspects were detained at various police and military detention facilities for several days before being produced in court.
Led by Anthony Wameli, the legal team filed their application in the Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala against the Attorney General as the first respondent and Major General Paul Lokech, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police as the second respondent.
“At arrest and during their detention, the applicants suffered torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, particularly serious physical injury, trauma, embarrassment, mental and emotional stress in the hands of the respondents and their agents, servants or persons acting under their command and thus the applicants require urgent medical treatment and rehabilitation,” reads the application in part.
They add that for this kind of suffering, the suspects are entitled to compensation for the damages caused to them and unconditional release from prison. They also hold Maj Gen Paul Lokech liable for having individually and/or in association with others violated and/or participated in the violation of the applicant’s rights to freedom from torture, cruel inhuman and degrading treatment and the right to personal liberty as enshrined in the constitution.
The application is supported by an affidavit by lawyer Geoffrey Turyamusiima who states that the suspects were arraigned in court with visible wounds all over their bodies. “They were visibly in pain and many more of them were crying and complaining of pain as a result of torture meted out to them by the people who arrested and retained them”, reads the affidavit.
According to Turyamusiima, the suspects told him that all they needed was a medical examination by experts in the treatment and rehabilitation of torture victims because they had suffered so much during their detention.
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