Parliament to investigate operations of safe houses

The Parliamentary committee on Human Rights has officially flagged of its investigations into the operations of the two Safe Houses in Kyengera and Kalangala respectively where a number of Ugandans are said to be tortured from.

The Wednesday revelations from the some of the Safe House torture victims left all legislators in tears wondering the value of life.

Last week the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga directed the Parliamentary committee on Human rights to investigate the operations of the two Safe Houses in Kyengera and Kalangala after a matter of national importance was raised by Kawempe North legislator Latif Ssebagala.

First to appear before the committee was a one torture victim by the names of Gabula Africa Evans Bright aged 50 who told the committee that he was in prison between 1986 up to 2014.

Gabula however told the committee that even after his release, on several occasions he has been detained in different safe houses including that of Nalukolongo, Kyengera among others allegedly on the directive of the ISO director Kaka Bagyenda.

He claimed that he had been told to pin the former IGP General Kale Kayihura that he wanted to topple the NRM government, something he declined to do.

His narration of how he was incarcerated and tortured in different safe houses for 72 days left all legislators in tears.

Gabula told the committee that women who are incarcerated in safe houses are gang raped by the security officers on duty.

Gabula pinned Sobi, the leader of the popular gang dubbed the Kifeesi, for being behind the torture of all inmates on the orders of the ISO director.

However, Gabula is scared for his life arguing even on his way to Parliament saying he saw some of the security officers who allegedly tortured him near the parliamentary gate busy on phones.

The committee chaired by Florence Egunyu summoned the director of ISO Kaka Bagyenda for his defence.