Four men have been arrested for allegedly participating in two separate incidents of torture in Kampala and Sheema districts.

Evans Kamuhanda and Apollo Kamukama allegedly tortured Charles Amanya whom they suspected of stealing a mobile phone last month May 28 in Kabugye cell, Sheema district. Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said Kamuhanda and Kamukama tied Amanya to a tree and tortured him before burying him alive in a shallow grave.

“The victim managed to crawl out of the shallow grave, to a nearby shack, where he spent two days until May 30, 2024, when he was discovered and taken to police. He was transferred to Bubaare health centre for treatment,” Enanga said.

Police have preferred charges of attempted murder, conspiracy and torture against Kamuhanda and Kamukama.

The torture incident in Kampala involves Darius Opanya, a private security guard who confined an 18-year-old man identified as Isaac Kitooke, in iron bars and clobbered him to a pulp. He accused him of stealing building materials from a construction site in Nakivubo, where they are working.

The incident came to the limelight after a video that was captured by their colleague, Samuel Azabo made rounds on social media. Old Kampala police launched an inquiry and got information from eyewitnesses leading to the arrest of the two men.

Kampala Metropolitan police deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said Kitooke has been advised to seek a comprehensive medical examination to facilitate the investigation and prosecution of the two. He also dismissed reports that the guard involved was a police officer.

“…We would like to clarify that, contrary to some reports on social media, the individual seen torturing the victim in the video is not a police officer. He is a local guard identified as Opanya Darius, whom the victim refers to as “commander Ivan” in the video,” Owoyesigyire said.