Members of Parliament who sit on the Human Rights Committee of Parliament have been blocked from entering two safe houses in Kampala.
The MPs were on a drive to investigate the existence of these safe houses and what exactly transpires there but at both locations in Kyengera and in Nalukolongo, the legislators were blocked.
Buvuma Woman member of Parliament Nantume Egunyu claimed that thy wanted substantiate allegations that people are tortured from safe houses, hence decided a spot visit without informing anyone.
“We wanted to find out where these safe houses are and whether people are tortured there. This was a committee decision. We decided to do a spot visit without informing where we were going.”
“We have visited three places but for the two places, it’s absurd we weren’t allowed to access by the soldiers we found. I can’t say we have seen people being tortured because we were denied entrance.”
According to Kyadondo East Legislator, Robert Kyagulany Ssentamu, many people he has interacted with told him they were in the safe houses and were tortured.
“We saw some Somali women in Kyengera and we were told they are being raped.”
“We proceeded to Nateete and saw another safe house by the roadside but we were denied access by the soldiers we found. This was an opportunity for the nation to see the impunity in the safe houses,” he added.
In a previous interface with the minister of security Gen Elly Tumwine, the MPs pushed for a visit to safe houses, but the minister claimed it was not possible.
Tumwine told them that this was security work and they would not be allowed near the houses.
