Africa-Press – Uganda. President Museveni has directed security agencies, especially police to drop the habit of beating wrongdoers, an act he said is barbaric.
“I reject the practice of caning wrongdoers. Some police forces in the world do it using batons but I reject it and it must stop, “Museveni said.
The President was on Wednesday giving his end of year address at the Nakasero State Lodge in Kampala.
The issue of security agencies, especially police caning people has been a contentious one for many years.
While President Museveni has on several occasions directed that the same should stop, the act has continued.
For example in August 2021, the president said beating of people is not allowed.
“Although, beating thieves is traditionally allowed and encouraged, the UPDF is not a traditional army here. The army is a revolutionary army. It would help if you used revolutionary beliefs, not ancient traditional beliefs. Our human rights record is incomparable to any other in the world. The NRM doesn’t believe in revenge,” Museveni said in caution to all security agencies.
However, since then, there have been incidents in which security agencies have been seen beating people, especially opposition supporters mercilessly.
For example during the ongoing presidential campaigns, opposition National Unity Platform supporters were mercilessly beaten by the army after a disagreement between presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi’s team and security regarding the campaign route, leading to a standoff.
Addressing the nation on Wednesday, the President said whereas during his time in school teachers and parents used to cane then, this was wrong.
He advised that police can teargas to disperse rioters which is legal and non-lethal, but stressed that police should apply it in a professional and methodical manner.
Museveni urged officers to first warn bystanders and allow them time to move away before deploying teargas or water cannons.
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