Security Minister Gen. Elly Tumwine has told the Human Rights committee of parliament that some people under detention in safe houses are there for their own safety while others sought protection in safe houses for security purposes.
The revelation followed statements the four-star general made on the floor of parliament a few weeks ago when he admitted that security agencies in Uganda operate safe houses across the country for security reasons.
Appearing before the committee on Tuesday, Gen. Tumwine said safe houses serve several purposes including coordination of clandestine intelligence operations, briefing and debriefing of intelligence “assets”, and protection of witnesses from dangers especially criminals who abandon criminal activities.
“There are people who come seeking for protection. Someone comes and says; my life is in danger for one reason or the other and if there is a genuine case, they are secured” said Gen. Tumwine.
He said safe houses also serve to manage criminals who require a long time to reform especially those that have rescinded to criminality after serving long prison sentences. He says these need to be observed for surveillance purposes before they are allowed to go back to communities.
Gen. Tumwine however disputed claims that people are arrested, tortured, and sometimes killed under illegal detention saying he is not aware of such and they are mere allegations that lack proof.
“I have heard for the first time from Hon. Ssebagala today that some people have been killed. I have no idea on someone killed in a safe house; I think the onus is on him to prove that” Gen. Tumwine said.
He however said he had no record of how many people are kept in safe house across the country, and therefore asked the committee to allow him more time to crosscheck and report back.
Gen. Tumwine also noted that it may not be in the interest of detainees in safe houses to be exposed when MPs on the committee chaired by Buvuma Woman MP Hon. Nantume Egunyu demanded to be led to safe houses in order to ascertain the truth of the matter.