Suspects to Face Trial Only in Gazetted Facilities, Declares Minister Kamuntu

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. Ephraim Kamuntu, has stated that any suspects arrested by security agencies must be held strictly in gazetted places of detention. Addressing Parliament during a plenary sitting, Kamuntu emphasized that personal liberty, arrest, and trial procedures are firmly protected under Articles 23 and 28 of the Constitution.

“The issue of law in arresting suspects must be respected. We should do things in accordance with the law,” Kamuntu told the House, adding that the Uganda Police Force will collaborate closely with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Judiciary to expedite murder trials and discourage unnecessary police bonds and court bails.

While presenting a statement on national security incidents, Kamuntu noted that Uganda remains largely secure, though isolated crimes persist due to land conflicts, inheritance disputes, economic stress, and drug abuse. To counter this, the government plans to accelerate a community policing model featuring increased personnel per sub-county, motorcycles, and rapid response mechanisms.

However, lawmakers expressed skepticism during the debate. The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, welcomed the commitment to gazetted detention but demanded accountability for individuals currently held in ungazetted locations. Similarly, Shadow Minister of Internal Affairs Hon. Denes Sekabira highlighted a massive funding gap, pointing out that only Shs50 billion had been allocated out of a projected Shs249 billion required for the community policing initiative.

Addressing the financial constraints, the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, stated that the police force is currently rationalizing available resources through mapping exercises to prioritize high-risk areas.

Read the full report on the Parliament of Uganda.