Andrew Bagala
29 August 2008
Two Wavah Broadcasting Service scribes who were allegedly tortured on Wednesday have pinned the head of the police's Very Important Persons Protection Unit as the one who ordered for their beating.
The two journalists Mr Timothy Sibasi and Mr Francis Kifeefe Tumukwasize told journalists in a press briefing that Senior Superintendent of Police Lueben Muhabwe ordered their arrest.
"He (Mr Muhabwe) told Probation Police Constables (PPCs) to confiscate our camera and get the tape. They swarmed our car pulled the driver out before forcing us out. They took us inside the stadium while beating and slapping us," Mr Sibasi said.
"We were tortured and hit with metallic bars on the legs as Mr Muhabwe was observing." Surprisingly, they later set dogs at them which bit them. "They were about 15 dogs. I tried to fight them but they overpowered me and they started biting my whole body as the PPCs laughed at us," he said.
The reporters had gone to follow up the dispatching of PPCs to different police units. Their camera, money and documents were confiscated by the PPCs who claimed that the press has been writing negatives stories about them.
They were released after hours of torture. Both scribes were rushed to Nsambya Hospital on Wednesday in critical condition. Police Spokesperson Judith Nabakooba, who attended the meeting, apologised and said they were investigating the incident.
"We are sorry for what happened. We are going to make an identification parade so that the victims can identify Mr Muhabwe," she said.
When contacted, SSP Muhabwe declined to comment, saying that the police spokesperson should talk on his behalf. Mr Muhabwe, police sources said, is a well connected man.
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