Mityana Municipality lawmaker Hon. Francis Zaake seems to be smelling justice following the move by the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Mityana to issue criminal summons against six police officers to answer charges related to torture of youthful leader and activist.
Zaake was arrested on April 19 from his home at Buswabulongo in Mityana municipality for distributing Covid-19 relief food contrary to the presidential directive that banned the same for fear of spreading the deadly virus. He was later detained at the Special Investigations Division headquarters in Kireka.
On Monday, the legislator pressed for torture charges against individual police officers prompting court to summon them.
In his affidavit, Zaake said officers fastened a rope and chain onto metallic seats above him on a patrol vehicle and suspended his body above the metallic floor as he dangled below the seats.
“After suspending me below the police truck’s behind seats, the officers drove me at a very high speed. Whenever we hit humps or potholes, my body would swing violently and hit the sides of the metallic surroundings. I eventually became numb in my legs and hands as a result of the unbearable pain,” Zaake said the affidavit.
Summoned officers include Senior Commissioner of Police, Elly Womanya, the commandant, Police Investigations Division in Kireka, SSP Bob Kagarura, the Wamala Regional Police Commander, SP Alex Mwiine, the Mukono District Police Commander, Twesigye Hamdan , a police officer attached to SID in Kireka, Musa Walugembe, the officer in charge of SID, Kireka and one Detective Assistant Commissioner of Police, Isaac Oketcho.
The charge sheet states that the accused officers tortured Zaake, something contrary to sections 2 and 4 of the Prevention and prohibition of Torture Act 2012.
“This was done through systematic beatings, flogging, slapping, kicking and punching on different parts of the body and detained him incommunicado. Also while arresting and transferring Zaake from his home in Mityana to Mityana Police Station and later Special Investigations Division, he was beaten, sprayed with pepper, slapped, kicked and punched.” The Charge sheet also alleges.