In April, I was travelling from Gulu, northern Uganda, after spending two days in Pader, engaging with local communities who are recovering from the brutal war of the infamous Joseph Kony. When I reached Karuma Bridge I started taking pictures of the beautiful river and the scenery.
No sooner had I taken my last shot, than I was accosted by two Uganda People’s Defence Forces soldiers. They pulled me aside and grabbed my cheap point and shoot camera. Apparently, I had committed a very grave crime against the state of Uganda by taking pictures of a flowing river and some baboons.
After understanding my crime, I asked the gallant soldiers why, if they felt it was so unnecessary for us to take pictures of an innocent bridge, river and baboons, they did not put up a sign saying just that? That would perhaps be justifiable, if they deemed the Karuma Bridge to be a security area. I gave these soldiers examples of fortified areas in Kampala such as the British High Commission and the American Embassy, which bear clear notifications that taking pictures is not permitted.
“You have been taking pictures of the Karuma Bridge and the river without our permission,” they blared and cocked their guns as if an enemy of immense proportion was in sight.
My understanding is that Joseph Kony, who has terrorised northern Uganda, is thousands of miles away in Central Africa Republic, he cannot be an excuse for UPDF soldiers grabbing people’s property.
Unfortunately the UPDF soldiers could not understand or chose not to get what I was saying. Finally I chose to give them my contact details and they kept my camera. Up to now, no one has contacted me to return it.
When I reached Kampala, I was welcomed by the news of Uganda police officers molesting a female activist Igrid Turinawe. Igrid was being arrested and in the fracas that ensued, a police officer was caught on camera grabbing and continuously squeezing Ms Turinawe’s breasts, as he tried to pull her out of her vehicle.
With the obvious grimace of pain written all over her face, Ms Turinawe shouted at the police officer: “What have I done? Please stop squeezing my breasts. It’s very painful. Please stop. The pain is too much. What have I done to deserve this treatment? It’s inhuman.”
Subsequently, Ms Turinawe continued to scream as she was forced into a waiting police van.
This is not the first time the Uganda police chose to attack people when subduing them for arrest. I have seen the Uganda police aim their boots at men’s testicles and penises when arresting them, again in full view of press cameras. I really wonder whether it is a question of poor training, low morale or a rotten system in the force.
A policeman who squeezes the breasts of an innocent woman in order to arrest her is very disrespectful and is not fit to be employed in the Uganda police force. And a Uganda People’s Defence Soldier who grabs a cheap digital camera from an innocent citizen taking pictures of a flowing river is not worth being a soldier in a national army.