Four men have been arrested for participating in two separate incidents of torture, in Kampala and Sheema Districts.
The incident in Kampala involves one Darius Opanya, a private security guard who confined an 18-year-old man identified as Isaac Kitooke, in iron bars and clobbered him to a pulp. He accused him of stealing building materials from a site in Nakivubo, where they are working.
The incident came to the limelight through a video that was captured by their colleague Samuel Azabo and later made rounds on social media. After assessing the scene in the video, police in old Kampala launched an inquiry and got information from eyewitnesses leading to the arrest of the two men.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said Kitooke has been advised to seek a comprehensive medical examination to facilitate the investigation and prosecution of the two. He also dismissed reports that the guard involved was a Police Officer.
“…We would like to clarify that, contrary to some reports on social media, the individual seen torturing the victim in the video is not a police officer. He is a local guard identified as Opanya Darius, whom the victim refers to as “Commander Ivan” in the video,” Owoyesigyire said.
Meanwhile, the two other suspects arrested over torture include Evans Kamuhanda, and Apollo Kamukama, who are both accused of torturing one Charles Amanya on suspicion of stealing a mobile phone. This incident happened on May 28, 2024, at Kabugye cell in, Sheema district.
Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga said Kamuhanda and Kamukama tied Amanya to a tree, tortured him and later buried him in a shallow grave suspecting that he had died.
“The victim managed to crawl out of the shallow grave, to a nearby shack, where he spent two days until May 30, 2024, when he was discovered and taken to police. He was transferred to Bubaare Health Centre for treatment,” Enanga said.
Police have preferred charges of attempted murder, conspiracy and torture against Kamuhanda and Kamukama.
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