MP MAGYEZI VOWS TO DEAL WITH SOLDIERS ACCUSED OF TORTURING KARINJU RESIDENTS

By our reporter
www.mknewslink.com
In Bushenyi—
Igara West MP, Raphael Magyezi, has vowed to ensure disciplinary action is taken against soldiers who are accused of torturing residents living around Karinju Forest Reserve in Bushenyi District.
Residents of Mashonga Sub-county and Bitooma Town Council, during a recent meeting with Magyezi, their area MP, accused UPDF soldiers guarding the forest of torturing the residents found in the forest and then extorting money from them.
In response, Magyezi, said that the soldiers are tarnishing the name of government.
Mr Magyezi said during a meeting at Nyabwina Trading Centre in Bitooma Sub-county that since locals can easily identify the tormentors, they will have to face the law and government has to compensate those that had been tortured.
During the meeting, the residents narrated that last week, the soldiers invaded Nyakitembe I and II, Akayebe and Kayanga villages in Mashonga Sub-county and Nyabwina and Kimuri in Bitooma Town Council, beat up and tortured 30 people, accusing them of degrading the natural forest.
The chairperson for Nyabwiina Village, Mr Fabian Muhumuza, was allegedly beaten when he tried to stop the soldiers from assaulting the locals. He is nursing a broken arm and back.
“They were three men armed with guns and sticks. Other two were unarmed, and when I asked what was going on, they started beating me,” Mr Muhumuza said.
The UPDF Second Division public relations officer, Capt Stephen Tumwesigye, said that he is still liaising with his colleagues on the ground to establish the truth of the matter.
“I have to call my other people on ground, police and local leaders to establish whether our soldiers there are misbehaving or these are just mere allegations; give me some time to make consultations,” Capt Tumwesigye said on Wednesday.

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