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Kamwenge Mayor released from police custody after five months
Kamwenge Town Council mayor Geoffrey Byamukama talking to journalists after his release. Courtesy photo
What you need to know:
- The UHRC visited Nalufenya detention centre and found that the suspects, including Mr Byamukama had been tortured and later, summoned the heads of security agencies whose officers were involved in the arrest of suspects in Kaweesi's killing.
- Recently, Mr Viola Komugisha, the wife of Mr Byamukama, said police had blocked her from accessing him in the police cells.
KAMPALA. Tortured Kamwenge Mayor, Mr Geoffrey Byamukama, has been given police bond after spending five months in police custody over links to the killing of former police spokesman, Andrew Felix Kaweesi.
Mr Byamukama has been in detention at Nalufenya Special Investigations Centre in Jinja District for the last five months.
The deputy police spokesman, Ms Polly Namaye, confirmed the development saying he was given police bond today (Saturday).
“It is true that we are giving him a police bond as investigations continue,” Ms Namaye said.
Although the constitution mandates that a suspect can’t be detained at police for more than 48 hours, the injured Byamukama has been in detention for five months.
Mr Byamukama is said to have been tortured by police officers after he was arrested on allegations that he had a hand in the assassination Kaweesi, in March this year.
Kaweesi and two other police officers were shot dead as he was being driven from his home in a Kampala suburb.
Mr Byamukama was arrested in Kampala City days after the killing.
A month later, leaked images of his sceptic wounds at Nakasero Hospital, where police were treating him, emerged on social media prompting an investigation by Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC).
The UHRC visited Nalufenya detention centre and found that the suspects, including Mr Byamukama had been tortured and later, summoned the heads of security agencies whose officers were involved in the arrest of suspects in Kaweesi's killing.
Before they appeared at UHRC offices, four police officers including two senior officers, Mr Patrick Munanura and Mr Fred Tumuhirwe and two junior officers, Constable Ronnie Byenkya and sergeant Tumukunde accused of torturing Mr Byamukama were rushed to court on torture charges.
The UHRC has never released their report or summoned suspects to their tribunal.
It isn’t clear why the UHRC that has powers to order for the release of a suspect detained beyond a mandatory time, he secure his freedom.
Recently, Mr Viola Komugisha, the wife of Mr Byamukama, said police had blocked her from accessing him in the police cells.
