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Ugandan president warns security agencies against use of torture

Xinhua, May 16, 2017 Adjust font size:

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has warned the country's security agencies against use of torture to extract information from suspected criminals.

Museveni in a statement issued on Tuesday said use of torture to extract confessions has three possible mistakes that may even interfere with the fight against crime.

"The use of torture is unnecessary and wrong and must not be used again," Museveni said.

His comments come after reports in the local media of a suspect who was grisly tortured by the police.

The suspect, the mayor of a local council in western Uganda is accused of being part of the gang that killed Andrew Kaweesi, former police spokesman, his driver and bodyguard in March this year.

The gory pictures of the local council official with deep wounds have aroused public anger.

Police said the officers who were involved in the torture of the suspect have been apprehended.

"Our annoyance with these criminals should not make us opt for defective short-cuts. We shall get them using patient means of evidence but not through torture because evidence through torture is not reliable," he said.

Torture was outlawed by the country's Constitution and any security officer found guilty of the act is charged on an individual basis. Endit