Video of security operatives beating up suspect draws public anger, shock

The public is up in arms after a video of security operatives from a yet to be identified security agency brutally arresting a suspect, went viral on social media.

On Thursday afternoon, a video showing five security operatives armed with guns beating an unidentified man captured near Christ the King church in Kampala started circulating.

The video was captured by Record TV.

[embed]https://www.facebook.com/kekensamedia/videos/1949395735360921/?t=3[/embed]

“Twagala mmotoka( we want the vehicle),”the four officers said as they hit the suspect with gun buts repeatedly all over his body including the kidney area as a number of people gathered to watch the proceedings.

Despite pleading for mercy and accepting to cooperate, the ruthless men continued beating the suspect before they dragged him into waiting taxi and drove off to an unknown destination leaving the public in shock.

The Nile Post has since tried to contact the respective spokespersons for the army and police but they have not yet responded to our message.

However, a number of people have raised fears over the manner in which people are arrested without dignity by security organs in broad day light.

“My goodness, if they can do this in public, what are they doing behind closed door,” wondered one Joy Wangechi on twitter.

“They may not have the answers. The fellows are not in uniform and are using private vehicles. As our sad history shows this kind of lack of accountability and disregard of the law by state connected individuals is always a precursor to bad things happening to us,” added Dan Wandera.

One Josephine Williams wondered why the unidentified man was bundled into a taxi after arrest noting that it was inhumane to treat him like a savage.

“Why is it that on lookers didn’t intervene after seeing these guys had no uniforms? What if they were just kidnappers? Is it because they had guns,” she questioned.

“This is outright brutality in broad day light and no one has moral authority to brag about the security brought by the NRM government if such things are still happening,” charged one Ham Fauzu on Facebook.

A number of such incidents have in the past happened in broad day light at the hands of security agencies.

In November last year, one of the suspects in the murder of AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi was re-arrested in a brutal manner by security operatives along Jinja Road shortly after being released on bail by Nakawa magistrates court.

The Inspector General of Police recently issued new guidelines to be followed while arresting suspects.

“A police officer will not effect an arrest unless a formal complaint has been made. All arrests must be done with the full authorisation of the unit supervisors or commanders,” IGP Ochola said

According to Ochola, if proper guidelines are followed, incidents of scuffles between arresting officers and suspects will always be avoided.

Speaking a news conference on Friday, police Interpol Director, AIGP Fred Yiga said no matter the circumstances, no suspect should be arrested in a disrespectful manner.