Ugandan soldiers involved in the beating of Ugandan lawmakers and civilians over their alleged role in a stoning of President Yoweri Museveni’s convoy have been arrested, the army said on Tuesday.
Supporters of a candidate contesting a parliamentary by-election hurled stones at Museveni’s motorcade on 13 August after he held a campaign rally in Arua for a ruling party candidate.
Pop musician turned politician Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine was among dozens of people detained shortly afterwards on suspicion of taking part in the incident.
Their lawmakers have accused the security forces of beating and torturing the suspects, accusations the government refuted saying they were “rubbish”.
“We have apprehended all the (soldiers) who were involved in the incidents and they have been brought to book,” army spokesman Richard Karemire said. He declined to reveal the identity of the detained soldiers nor say how many had been arrested or when their cases would be heard.
In a letter to Museveni dated 27 August, parliament speaker Rebecca Kadaga had called for the arrest of security personnel involved in the suspected beating and torture of 33 people after their arrest over the convoy incident.
“I am concerned that no effort has been made to arrest the security officers from the (Special Forces Command), Military Police and Uganda Police Force who were involved in the violent actions against unarmed civilians,” Kadaga wrote.
“This is therefore to demand that the officers concerned be apprehended at the earliest opportunity and presented in court. The Uganda parliament will not condone or acquiesce in acts of torture.”
On Monday a Ugandan High Court granted bail to all 33 people arrested over the stoning.
