By Sylvia
The Kabarole district leadership has expressed outrage over the mysterious deaths of suspects in police custody, citing a lack of transparency and accountability from the authorities.
The incidents
During the recent Kabarole district council sitting in the district chambers in Kitumba, the district speaker, Timothy Ruhweza, highlighted the recent deaths of two youths from Rwengaju sub-county within a month. The most recent incident he explained involved a young man whose name has not been identified, who died in police custody while being taken for investigations in Mugusu.
The police, notably claimed that the deceased jumped off the NOAH car and fell on the road, dying instantly.
However, Ruhweza questioned how someone could jump off a car and die, and why some of the police officers present at the scene ran away.
Ruwheza, further narrated that the first suspect to die under unjustifiable circumstances was a 25-year-old boda boda rider who was arrested by Kichuleta police and later found dead in River Mpanga.
LCV Intervenes
Richard Rwabuhinga, the Kabarole district chairperson, expressed his dismay at the deaths, stating that Ugandans are dying at the hands of security forces who should be protecting them.
He emphasized the fact that while he does not condone criminality, the law must be respected, and leaders continue demanding an explanation from the police.
Rwabuhinga continued to question the police’s account of the second death, pointing out that the deceased had stitches on his body, raising further suspicions.
When our news reporter attempted to get a comment from Rwenzori West Police’s Twesige Vincent, he claimed to be unaware of the allegations, stating that he had tried to inquire from other police officers, but they were not responding to his calls
