Police in Hoima have arrested a detective attached to the Albertine Flying Squad following the emergence of a video allegedly showing him assaulting a suspect during interrogation.
The officer, identified as Police Constable Erick Nkata, was taken into custody on Monday after police reviewed the footage circulating on social media and identified him as the officer seen repeatedly beating the suspect.
The video shows the unidentified suspect being subjected to repeated physical assault while being questioned. The suspect is heard crying out for help as the interrogation continues.
Police have not disclosed the identity of the suspect or the offence for which he was being questioned.
Julius Allan Hakiiza, the Albertine Region Police spokesperson, confirmed Nkata’s arrest and detention, saying the force had initiated investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Hakiiza said investigators examined the video and established that Nkata was the officer involved in the assault.
He said the detective’s conduct was unprofessional and violated the Police Code of Conduct, operational guidelines and provisions protecting human rights.
Hakiiza added that Nkata would be subjected to the appropriate disciplinary and legal processes once investigations are completed.
The alleged assault has raised concerns about the treatment of suspects in police custody, where officers are required to obtain information through lawful investigative procedures rather than coercion or physical violence.
Uganda’s Constitution expressly prohibits torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Article 24 states that no person should be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
The protection is reinforced by Article 44, which recognises freedom from torture as a fundamental right that cannot be suspended or derogated from under any circumstances.
The Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act, 2012, also criminalises torture. The law defines torture to include the intentional infliction of severe physical or mental pain or suffering, including where it is done to obtain information or a confession from a person.
A person convicted of torture under the law may face imprisonment for up to 15 years, a fine, or both, depending on the circumstances of the offence.
Hakiiza urged members of the public who experience or witness police misconduct to report such incidents to regional police authorities so that they can be investigated and appropriate action taken against officers found to have violated the law or professional standards.
The investigation into the alleged assault remains ongoing.
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