KAMPALA – The Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) of the police has broken silence after rumors circulated that detained Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament Francis Zaake had been tortured after the arrest.
The CID says the MP, who faces charges of distributing food amid the Coronavirus pandemic is being handled within the right procedures.
CID Spokesman Mr. Charles Mansio Twine said the MP who was detained on allegations of doing a negligent act likely to spread coronavirus is currently undergoing treatment at Iran –Uganda Hospital in Naguru and that “he is very conscious and in stable conditions.”
Security personnel earlier this week arrested MP Zaake for disobeying lawful orders and negligent acts, the police say were likely to spread the infection of the coronavirus.
At the time the youthful MP was to be produced to Court, Mr. Twine said, he through his lawyers complained of ill health, which prompted the “Uganda Police Medical team to have him examined in the presence of his Lawyers, personal doctors, and his dear wife”.
Mr. Twine said the Police team unanimously agreed that some treatment be extended to him.
“Hon. Zaake is currently undergoing treatment at Iran –Uganda Hospital Naguru and he is very conscious and in stable conditions,” Mr. Twiine said.
Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi, commonly known as Bobi Wine on Thursday, April 23 said Mr. Zaake who was arrested on Sunday was admitted to hospital, surrounded by police after gruesome torture by security operatives during the arrest.
Mr. Kyagulanyi who leads the People Power movement of which Mr. Zaake is a member was blocked when he went to see him.
“Today has been a very emotional day for me. It has brought back the memories of the Arua ordeal and the many other times I have found myself alone, surrounded by people who are on no other mission but to hurt me and ensure the world does not get to know,” Bobi Wine said adding that “today has also given more meaning to our struggle for freedom, democracy, and human rights. It has been yet another reminder that we must fight and win our freedom or die trying”.
“Our brother and comrade Hon. Zaake Francis was arrested on Sunday and beaten so badly! The man who was very energetic on Sunday is now being treated at the Iran-Uganda hospital in Naguru. These past days, people have been denied access to him, including his personal doctors, lawyers, and family members. Today, they allowed a few people to see him although they were all prohibited from going in with phones so that they don’t take his pictures!”
He went on:
“As soon as I arrived at the hospital with Nubian Li, they deployed dozens of more police officers who came with anti-riot equipment! You can imagine the fear! They denied me access to him and asked me to return tomorrow or another day. When I was detained at Makindye after such a horrendous torture ordeal, they bought time so that people would see me when I was in better shape!”.
Bobi Wine claimed that Zaake has narrated such a tale to those who have been lucky to access him.
“They did unspeakable things to him. Upon arrest, they did not even talk much about food distribution- it was all about intimidating him and demanding that he stops opposing Museveni! It is clear that the Museveni regime is using this COVID situation to annihilate and weaken all those opposed to their dictatorship! Comrades, we must remain alert and demand what is due to us. We must not allow them to have their way.”
