Uganda Police Face Torture Charges Over Alleged Caning

In Zambia ministers and police have sparked a debate over the use of whipping to bring people in line with restrictions intended to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Uganda has also seen the introduction of new rules and restrictions, along with concerns that these are being abused by the authorities to infringe human rights of citizens.

In one particularly concerning case from earlier this week ten police officers were accused of torturing women that allegedly broke curfew orders.

The women were allegedly beaten and forced to rub mud on their genitals as a punishment, according to local media reports.

The officers in question are being held and a joint investigation has been announced.

Human Rights Watch has accused Uganda’s security patrols of "excessive force, including beating, shooting and arbitrarily detaining people across the country" in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Uganda has 53 confirmed cases of coronavirus. This week President Museveni introduced new measures following a rise in cases including banning people from exercising in public and a ban on motorcycle taxis are 2pm.

The President also made it clear that he did not want policemen and soldiers to beat people, warning them it was not acceptable.