The men behind Kawooya’s torture

Police have disowned the gun wielding men who were seen Thursday evening carrying out a brutal arrest near Christ the king church in Kampala.

As the video footage makes rounds on social media drawing public attention, the force has launched an investigation to establish who these armed plain clothes men.

We have since learnt that the man in the video is a one Yusuf Kawooya, aged 43 and resident of Bulamu Village in Gayaza. Kawooya is said to be butcher in Kintintale, a City suburb.

In the video, about five men holding Ak47s pounce on Kawooya and fell him. They then start hitting him with gun butts while demanding; “Twagala Motoka (we want the car)”.

Kawooya tried to plead to the men, “Mundeke ntambule mpola (Allow me walk myself to where you want me)” but they keep hitting him. One specific one in a blue shirt raises his gun and digs Kawooya in the ribs.

The men then yank Kawooya off the ground and carry him to a waiting empty commuter taxi, shove him into it as they continue to pummel him.

Kawooya at this point is screaming in pain, but his tormentors keep hitting him, while others wait outside to ensure all is ready to go, finally when Kawooya is tucked away in the taxi, the rest jump in and speed off to destination-unknown.

https://www.facebook.com/N.Opiyo101/videos/10156738775519253/

Where do the men come from?

When contacted, the army deputy spokesperson, Lt.Col.Deo Akiiki said they are still investigating the incident.

“We are following up the incident,” Akiiki said.

Uganda Police Force has also boldly disowned the gun men, saying they have never sanctioned such men or their acts.

“The Police did not sanction of participate in that operation. What happened is unacceptable in a country like ours where rule of law is critical” the Force’s spokesperson Emilian Kayima said.

Country Director for Interpol, Fred Yiga condemned the act calling it ‘disgusting’

“You look at it and feel disgusted, that can’t be the modus operandi,” he said

Then who are they?

Human rights lawyer Nicholas Opiyo pins the police for the gruesome arrest and torture. He maintains they have identified them and that they are attached to the police flying squad wing.

“The first one is a gentleman in a red shirt, who was the personal bodyguard and driver to Herbert Muhangi, a former commander to the flying squad,” Opiyo claims.

“Additionally I have brothers in the police, some of whom went to training school with some of those people in the video. The first person they have identified is a sergeant, I don’t know whether from the army or police but he is attached to the flying squad; His name Muhereza, he sits at the flying squad office at CPS.”

 

What to do?

Human Rights defenders are pressing the police to come clear or face the law.

Nicholas Opiyo says he will find all the names of the officers involved in the brutal arrest and ensure they are held accountable.

“I have stuck out my neck to identify an individual involved, I will get all their names and hand them to the authorities. If the authorities refuse to act, we shall use other means to ensure they are held accountable.”

Other cases

This is not the first time that plain clothed men have arrested people in a brutal manner, in broad day light and in public.

In April this year, security operatives raided court and in an ugly scene, re-arrested Dr.Ismail Kalule, suspected to have participated in terrorism.

Kalule was among the people arrested in connection with the July 2010 Kampala twin blasts that killed over 70 people who were watching World Cup finals at Lugogo and Ethiopian village restaurant in Kabalagala but was acquitted of the charges by the court in May 2016 before being re-arrested by security.

Having been in detention for over a year, in February, Kalule applied for bail, Justice Moses Mukiibi of the International Crimes Division of the High Court in Kampala released him pending his trial.

However, following his release, security operatives from the Joint Anti -Terrorism Taskforce(JAT) and counter terrorism police both in uniform and plain clothes forcefully grabbed him before bundling him into a nearby van and drove him away to an unknown direction.

In November 2017, plain clothed security operatives pounced on Ahmed Ssenfuka, a suspect n Kaweesi murder who had been bailed by Nakawa court, squeezed him in a premio car and drove off with him.

Ssenfuka was intercepted by security operatives at Spear Motors Nakawa.

They pounced on him and yanked him off the motorcycle, one of the operatives brandished a pistol and put him at gun point, while the others scuffled with him. The more Ssenfuka fought, the more the operative with a gun kept flashing it in his face, as if to say; “Make this fast boy, its for your own good.”

Aside, was a Toyota Corolla registration number UAE 141K parked and only waiting for the “goods” labelled Ahmed Ssenfuka.

People gathered on one end of the road, as Ssenfuka shouted, kicked and wailed while fighting off the security fixture.

“woooo..woooooo…” Ssenfuka shouted helplessly as they pinned him on one of the cars parked by the roadside, fidgeting to handcuff him.

“Ava ku kooti, bamutade kukooti, ate bamukwatiraki (he has been released by court, why are they rearresting him)?” the onlookers echoed from a distance. One would be heard exclaiming ignorantly; “ate oyo akoozeekyi (what has he done)?”

At the same time, Ssenfuka tore away from the operatives, sprinting across the road not caring what car would knock him, all he wanted was to come to the side where more people are, may be some help would suffice.

Alas, the crowd only watched on. Ssenfuka continued to plead with whoever cared to listen; “Banange nva ku kooti (Please I am coming from court where I was released).” He repeated this continuously until a woman from the side called upon her colleagues to help him but no one was willing to join the fight.

Meanwhile one of the operatives kept the gun held at close range, something that could have scared anyone willing to join.

Ssenfuka wrestled, puffed, huffed, wailed and cried until his tank was empty. He tried to collapse to the ground but he was collected by his clothes, in the event undressing him.

This however did not deter his conscriptors as they further gathered him at once and squeezed him into the waiting Toyota Corolla and sped off.