Pidson Kareire given hope & savititude
Kareire
By Drone Staff
Court today 24th January, 2023 has started hearing a case of torture that was subjected to Pidson Kareire by security agents who were reportedly hired by Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among.
Kareire filed a case in the High Court of Uganda at Kampala, accusing Attorney General, who represents all state agents. Court was supposed to begin at 9:30am but it delayed upto 10:00am. His Lordship Dr. Douglas Singiza Karekona presided over the court session.
The respondent was represented by Elizabeth Namakula, a senior State Attorney, who was accompanied by Lt. Hassan from Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and D/ASP Diana Nairubi from Uganda Police Force.
Kareire is represented by Andrew Mumpenje from Makada & Partners Advocates and Solicitors General. The Counsel for the Applicant, Mumpenje told court that Pidson Kareire was verbally abused, violently scourged, immersed his entire face in water for long so as to suffocate him and the agents of Attorney General pierced his body wiuth sharp metallic objects in the course of duty while the applicant was in detention.
Mumpenje argues that this is a contravention to the applicant’s freedom from torture; but it is also inhuman and degrading treatment contrary to Article 24 and 44 (a) of the Constitution of Uganda as Amended.
His Lordship Dr. Douglas Singiza Karekona advised the respondent, Elizabeth Namakula to first seek the mind of the Attorney General, but he conspicously rubished the idea of identifying in person the tormentors. Karekona explained that the individuals who tortured Pidson Kareire can be handled administratively, and be punished behind the scenes. The case was adjourned to February 28th, 2023.
It should be remembered that Pidson Kareire was kidnapped from Kampala City by Security Agents led by the Chief Bodyguard of Anita Annet Among, who was Deputy Speaker then. The Chief Bodyguard, Aggrey Aruho and others tortured the journalist, claiming that he had written about their boss.
He was kidnapped and hidden from his family for about a week, but when pressurized, police arraigned him and the National Unity Platform (NUP)’s Moses Bigirwa at Buganda Road Court, where they were joined by Moses Mugalura and Francis Matovu aka Butto on tramped charges of computer misuse act.