Luuka: Internal Affairs Minister Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire has reiterated that the police are mandated to keep the peace, not to torture civilians, particularly during election campaigns. Otafiire stressed that citizens should not be treated like animals under the pretense of maintaining law and order.
The minister issued this warning on Saturday, September 7, 2024, while officiating at the prayer mass of the late Gladys Aliyinza, wife of Hajji Faruk Kirunda, the deputy presidential press secretary. The prayers, recognizing Aliyinza’s eternal rest, were held at her ancestral home in Lambala village, Irongo sub-county, Luuka district.
Otafiire, the chief guest at the event, which was attended by several government dignitaries and political figures, took the opportunity to warn police officers against unethical conduct in the line of duty.
“I want to inform you, the RPC (Regional Police Commander), to caution your police officers against beating people. I don’t want to hear of police officers torturing civilians here. They are not cows, and even in our own lives, we don’t beat cows, but handle them peacefully,” Otafiire said.
He emphasized that police brutality is a thing of the past, stating that Uganda no longer requires such methods of policing. He explained that the Uganda Police Force is meant to serve the people, not to break the law.
“It’s not about breaking people’s hands. It’s about handling them properly as professional officers,” he noted, while also urging citizens to avoid provoking law enforcement officers.
“There are some people who provoke the police to beat them so they can make news headlines. But they should stop because the results may not be good,” he cautioned.
The seasoned minister stressed that citizens should be respected by those in authority, as they are the ones responsible for entrusting leaders with power.
Otafiire also expressed concern about leaders who oppress ordinary people, advising them to remember, “We shall leave power one day, but Uganda will remain Uganda.”
In the same vein, the retired army officer condemned corrupt leaders, calling them “useless individuals tarnishing the corporate image of the NRM government.”
He urged locals to vote for credible leaders who are dedicated to serving their communities rather than self-serving opportunists and selfish politicians.
“Leaders who go to Parliament or district councils for their own interests are not good leaders. You should avoid them,” he advised.
On the political dynamics in Luuka district, Faruk Kirunda, the deputy presidential press secretary, lamented the ongoing political rivalries, which he said could hinder the district’s development.
“I am in Luuka for a reason, and I want to see it transformed. I don’t have any fights with the politicians here. The president instructed both me and Hon. Mbayo to stay in our lanes, and that’s what I’m doing. Unless the president tells me to leave Luuka, I will stay. I am listening to the challenges of the district and am ready to connect them with people who can offer solutions,” Kirunda said.
It is worth noting that Kirunda is promoting Annet Nabirye, a youth candidate, for the position of Woman Member of Parliament for Luuka. Nabirye is the sister of Kirunda’s late wife, Gladys Aliyinza, who recently died in a tragic accident.
According to Kirunda, Nabirye would be a strong candidate to represent Luuka in the August House. The current Luuka Woman MP, Esther Mbayo, is now facing pressure from forces within State House, which may threaten her re-election bid in 2026.
