KAMPALA – Over 20 LDU personnel have been arrested for assaulting people and extorting money during the ongoing lockdown over coronavirus.
The LDUs were arrested on the orders of Chief of Defence Forces Gen David Muhoozi following public outcry of brutality.
Defence and Army spokesperson Brig Richard Karemire confirmed the arrests on Thursday but declined to give details, saying that this might jeopardize investigations.
But sources close to the Army disciplinary unit revealed that in Kampala metropolitan area, 10 LDUs were arrested while 13 others have been held in upcountry districts.
A source said among the 10 LDUs arrested in Kampala include four accused of brutalizing women vending food and fruits.
Some of the women who were severely clobbered by LDUs include Aloyo Hadijah and Christine Awori who were beaten on Thursday last week. The six other LDUs have been arrested for extorting money from people walking at night including boda-boda riders, drivers and pedestrians.
Gen Muhoozi, on Monday met some of the victims of the brutality and apologised.
Gen Muhoozi explained to the women that their handling was high handed, unjustified and regrettable.
Uganda!
“I do apologize to you and fellow countrymen. We have also instituted addition improvements including changing command to ensure better supervision and drawing up elaborate rules of engagement to guide the security services in their enforcement work, related to Covid-19 fight,” Muhoozi said.
