Torture Claims and Retractions: Eric Mwesigwa’s Story Draws Controversy, Kyagulanyi Denies Allegations.

In a recent development that has sparked controversy, Eric Mwesigwa who had claimed that security personals burned his chest with a hot flat iron, has retracted his story.

This came after his visit to Defence offices yesterday.

https://twitter.com/SPKinobe2018/status/1630936102063296519

Mr Eric Mwesigwa, a resident of Nansana in Wakiso District, was first paraded by Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, the president of the National Unity Platform (NUP) last month. Mr Mwesigwa showed injuries he allegedly sustained after security officers tortured him on January 31.
In a new twist, Mr Mwesigwa yesterday retracted his story and accused NUP officials of luring him into tarnishing the government’s image.

While appearing at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran affairs headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala yesterday, Mr Mwesigwa said he was lured into a deal by NUP and the wounds were inflicted on him by the same group after being promised  a fee of Shs50 million and a trip to the USA.

However, Mr Mwesigwa failed to produce any evidence to back his claims when asked by journalists.

According to Mr Mwesigwa , the army tracked and found him at Emitex medical centre in Kyabando where he has been receiving treatment. 

Mr Joseph Kaddu, who accompanied his friend Mr Mwesigwa to Mbuya, said unnamed NUP members had also promised him a similar deal worth Shs50 million in April this year.

“But after witnessing what Mwesigwa went through when NUP members did not pay his medical bills, I withdrew from their deal. So we are here to clarify about what happened,” Mr Kaddu said yesterday.

it should be noted that In 2016, the same  Kaddu swore an affidavit in a private criminal torture case against former police chief Gen Kale Kayihura and other seven police officers at the  Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court.

Mr Kaddu claimed the police officers tortured him while dispersing Dr Kizza Besigye’s supporters in Kampala after the general elections. 
He later withdrew his affidavit claiming the private prosecutors bribed him with Shs800,000 and he was promised  an additional Shs5 million after testifying in the case.

Meanwhile a prominent Ugandan politician and head of National Unity Platform Robert Kyagulanyi has denied allegations of torture made by the supposed ‘‘victim” who was paraded at Mbuya Barracks.

Mr Kyagulanyi has described the claims as shameless, scandalous and an amateurish attempt by the UPDF to allegedly “spin the unfortunate torture of a citizen by the army, which confirms that indeed the torture meted out on Mwesigwa and others like him is sanctioned by the UPDF and other security agencies

The conflicting accounts have left many questioning what really happened, and who to believe.