Police in Hoima have arrested a Flying Squad detective for allegedly torturing a suspect during interrogation.The detained officer has been identified as Police Constable Erick Nkata, attached to the Albertine Flying Squad unit.
He was arrested on Monday after a video emerged showing him repeatedly beating a suspect while allegedly trying to obtain information from him.
In the video, the suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, is seen being severely assaulted during interrogation.
The suspect is heard screaming for help, but the assault continues. Torture is prohibited under Uganda’s Constitution. Article 24 provides that no person shall be subjected to any form of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 44 further provides that freedom from torture is a right from which there can be no derogation. Uganda’s Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act, 2012 also makes torture a criminal offence. The law defines torture to include the intentional infliction of severe physical or mental pain or suffering for purposes including obtaining information or a confession from a person. A person convicted of torture faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine, or both.
Julius Allan Hakiiza, the Albertine Region Police spokesperson, has confirmed the arrest and detention of Nkata.
Hakiiza said the video circulating on social media was reviewed by the police, and investigators established that Nkata was the officer involved in assaulting the suspect during interrogation. He said investigations into the incident are underway and that the officer would be charged accordingly.
Hakiiza said Nkata acted unprofessionally and that his conduct contravened the Police Code of Conduct, operational guidelines and the Human Rights Act 2019.
He did not disclose the identity of the suspect or the offence for which the suspect was being interrogated. Hakiiza has appealed to members of the public with complaints of police misconduct to report them to the regional police authorities to enable disciplinary action to be taken against officers found to have acted improperly-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
