NOW U KNOW! Gov’t doesn’t operate Safe houses- Gen. Muhwezi

By our reporter

The Minister of Security, Gen Jim Muhwezi has denied allegations that Government through its security agencies is operating safe houses where they arrest, hold and torture Ugandans suspected of committing crimes.

The Minister made the remarks while appearing before Parliament’s Human Rights Committee where he had been summoned to respond to allegations of torture, forced disappearances of Ugandans by security agencies.

His remarks were in response to a question posed by Fox Odoi, Chairperson Human Rights Committee whether the Ministry of Security that oversees activities of Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and External Security Organisation (ESO) are manning security organs.

“There are allegations that ISO operates safe houses and the word safe houses and the word safe is a misname, they are basically ungazetted torture chambers. To the best of your knowledge does the Internal Security Organisation and External Security Organisation operate safe houses?” asked Odoi.

Minister Muhwezi replied: “Safe houses are being abused but even when we have safe houses, it isn’t for detaining people. Safe houses are used for training safe assets, we train them in safe houses which aren’t in the public, not for detention or any other purpose. Right now as we speak, we don’t have any safe houses but when safe houses have been there, they have been for operations.”

Noeline Kisembo (DWR Kibaale) sought clarification if the safe houses haven’t been used for unintended purposes asking, “You said when they existed, they have been used for training, haven’t there been incidences when they have been used for detention because the allegations before this committee are that safe houses have been used as chambers of torture of those detained.”

The Minister insisted Government doesn’t operate safe houses which is a swift change in position from the one held under leadership of former Security Minister Gen Elly Tumwine who admitted to operating safe houses and also barred Parliament from accessing the venues during a probe into torture claims in 2019.

The Human Rights Committee also gave Minister Muhwezi a list of seven Ugandans who have disappeared after receiving the names from Uganda Human Rights Commission.

Odoi while handing over the list said, “The committee is also investigating incidents of forced disappearance of a total of seven Ugandans, I will give you their names, we want your help in finding the whereabouts of these Ugandans. The Committee takes the position that we must account for every citizen and alien within our jurisdiction so we need to work together and find out where these people are.”

The victims include; Ddamulira John who has been missing since 21st November 2020, Kafeero Mathew 21st November 2020, Kigozi Mathew 23rd November 2020 and Namayanja Sarah 23rd December 2020.

The others include; Nagweri Agnes 23rd November 2020, Kasumba George 8th August 2021, and Chekedi Ibrahim 14th December 2021.

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