The Inspector General of Police Gen Edward Kale Kayihura has heeded to Security Miniter Gen Henry Tumukunde’s advise and apologized over his force’s shortcomings including the torture of suspects detained in Nalufenya in Jinja.
Speaking to a group of people in Eastern Uganda on Monday, Gen Kayihura said that some police officers are not up to the policing task before he lowered his voice to ask for forgiveness.
“I am sorry and I ask you to forgive the police. The police should protect but not harass citizens. I am aware that some officers use excessive force but I beg you to forgive us,” said Gen Kayihura.
Gen Kayihura’s apology comes at a time when four top officers were arrested and charged for torturing suspects in the murder of AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi.
Kaweesi, a former police spokesman was gunned down in March but since then several suspects have been uprehended and tortured.
Some suspects like for ISO operative Galabuzi Musisi was told to implicate Gen Tumukunde as the only way to regain his freedom.
Human rights defenders have condemned police actions on torturing suspects with some calling for the resignation of the police chief.
Two weeks ago Gen Tumukunde advised the police to own up to their mistakes and not to torture suspects to extract extrajudicial confessions.
In fact Gen Tumukunde told the police to release suspects that had been wrongly arrested in connection with Kaweesi’s killing.
Gen Tumukunde has also pointed out that police officers need refresher training in order to get better at doing their work.
It now appears that the IGP is taking a leaf from the security minister’s words.