President Yoweri Museveni has cautioned police officers against beating suspects and criminals, urging them to use lawful and non-lethal methods when handling public disorder.
The president made the remarks during his end-of-year address, in which he reflected on the country’s progress and outlined priorities for the year ahead.
His caution comes two days after police allegedly battered a National Unity Platform (NUP) supporter in Mpigi District, amid reports of assaults on opposition supporters.
According to accounts, the incident began when Edward Mukwaya intervened as police officers allegedly beat another party supporter. Officers reportedly turned on Mukwaya, beating him with batons before chasing, handcuffing, and assaulting him again as he attempted to flee. He later collapsed and became unresponsive.
However, Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala said officers were attempting to rescue Mukwaya from an angry mob that had accused him of stealing a mobile phone.
Mukwaya’s case adds to a growing list of alleged victims of security force brutality, including Misaki Okello, who was shot dead in November shortly after a Bobi Wine rally in Iganga, and Otim Leon Joshua, a 16-year-old student at Excel High School in Mukono. Otim was reportedly beaten and later died at Lacor Hospital in Gulu City, where he had been admitted for treatment.
Museveni stressed that police should stop beating lawbreakers with batons and instead rely on non-lethal crowd-control methods such as tear gas.
“Police should stop beating lawbreakers using batons and instead use tear gas and other non-lethal methods against rioters,” Museveni said.
He further advised officers to issue warnings before dispersing crowds.
“Before using tear gas, police should use loudspeakers to warn people and give them time to leave,” he said.
Museveni added that he had been busy campaigning and had not closely followed the activities of opposition groups but claimed to have received reports of alleged misconduct by supporters of NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi.
“I have, however, heard that some mobile crowds of Mr Kyagulanyi have been looting people. I personally spoke to people in Abim, Karamoja, who said they were attacked by Kyagulanyi’s group,” Museveni said.
