KAMPALA, UGANDA: The UPDF Spokesperson, Brig. Felix Kulayigye has responded to a video of a woman accusing security operatives from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) of torture and rape labeling the torture allegations as baseless and completely untrue.
In the torture video aired on NTV Uganda on Wednesday, April 20, the victim identified as Alexandreos Marinos, 29, a resident of Mbuya said she was arrested by CMI officers she identified as Ali Hassan and Elias Ssengoba on allegations of supporting and playing National Unity Platform leader, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine’s music.
“They had warned me against playing “Bobi Wine’s music” and ordered me to stop supporting NUP- else I would face dire consequences!” Marinos said in a video that has since gone viral.
Two days later, Brig. Felix Kulaigye, the Army Spokesperson has in a Friday statement dismissed the claims as baseless and untrue saying the victim in the news bulletin has never been seen anywhere in a UPDF detention, let alone the CMI offices or detention facilities.
“We categorically state and dispute the claim that CMI was involved in her torture or detention. She is not known to CMI and has never been held in our detention at any point in time,” Kulayigye said, without revealing the location or presence of detention centres in the country.
The army spokesperson explained that the days Marinos alleges to have been kidnapped and detained show she was making communication on phone. “How can a detainee make phone calls,” he wondered, presenting a phone printout indicating the lady was making several phone calls during the days she claims she was in detention.
“She says she was in detention for two days. This phone printout is from March 27th up to April, 4,2022. These are people she has been discussing with during the period of detention as she says.”
Kulayigye also presented facts on the two people identified as Hassan Ssengooba and Sergeant Ali Hassan Matovu whom Marinos accused of personally participating in the torture and alleged rape.
According to the UPDF statement, Ssengooba is not a soldier, but a civilian and a neighbor to Marinos (whom they have been known to each other for a while) whereas Matovu, a Sergeant, works with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The statement further explained that Sgt. Matovu only interfaced with Marinos in 2020 interrogating her about her husband who was a Local Defence Unit personnel but had deserted.
“Ali Hassan Matovu was involved in interrogating her at Kinawataka Police Station in 2020 when she was suspected of possession of military stores. This is because her lover at the time, an LDU soldier, deserted and it was suspected he might have left some military stores or equipment in her possession. Nothing incriminating her was found, and she was subsequently released within the next 48 hours,” Kulayigye explained.
Read the UPDF Full Statement below
On the torture allegations, the UPDF said they can’t explain where the torture marks could have been inflicted on Marinos as she alleges.
“Where she got injuries we don’t know if she has them anyway. Our investigations will establish if at all she was injured. Whatever her motivation might be, we will continue to review this incident and find out what happened. We have always been steadfast in condemning torture and any human rights violation. However, we have witnessed one of the quickest ways to claim asylum or refugee status in Europe and America is claiming persecution. This could be the same for her,” Brig Kulayigye said.
The army spokesperson however noted that the same could be one of the gimmicks by Ugandans to seek asylum abroad.
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