Legislators demand stringent measures against errant UPDF Soldiers

Members of Parliament have called for action against unruly officers of the UPDF army.

The development followed a statement by the Internal Affairs State Minister, Gen David Muhoozi on the shooting of a traffic police officer, PC Robert Mukebezi by an army officer.

Mukebezi lost his leg after he was shot by Cpl Bashir Mango Babangida of the Uganda People’s Defence Force in January this year.

In his statement to the house on Tuesday, Gen Muhoozi recounted the incident and management of PC Mukebezi thereafter.

“The patient is now out of danger and steadily responded to treatment; he was discharged from hospital last Friday and is recovering from his home in Mukono; he will return to the hospital for review,” said Muhoozi.

The Minister also noted that they hoped that the amputation after-effects will cease in due course paving way for the rehabilitative phase of his management.

However, MPs condemned the behavior of certain members of the security forces, who they said are creating a pattern of indiscipline, impunity, and violence.

“We wanted to know which other punitive measures you have put in place such that these occurrences do not remain forever,” said MP Stephen Kisa (NRM, Luuka South).

However, Hon Jim Muhwezi the security minister was quick to defend the forces disowning the impunity and saying such acts earn perpetrators severe punishment.

“These cases [of violence] are reported in UPDF, Police and Uganda Wildlife Authority; these are individual criminal acts which government condemns and those that are responsible are punished; some people [the errant security operatives] have been shot…firing squad,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Anita Among directed Muhwezi to present a list detailing all reported cases of impunity and violence and the actions that the security establishment has taken against the adversely named individuals.

“Can I have a list of those people, we look at it, and the action taken? I give you one week [to present it] since you already have it,” said Among.
“These things [violence by some security actors] are not good for our society; let’s instill discipline in the army and police; if somebody doesn’t know how to hold a gun, remove it from him,” she added.

The Deputy Speaker promised to dedicate a day for the plenary to exhaustively debate the matter and present solutions.