KAMPALA — President Yoweri Museveni has warned security personnel especially the Local Defence Unit (LDUs) against misinterpreting his directives on enforcement of the lockdown intended to halt the spread coronavirus.
Addressing the nation on Wednesday night, the president said it had been brought to his attention that security officers especially Local Defence Units misinterpret his directives and terrorise members of the public.
“Why are you beating people? Even these days, we nolonger beat cows,” the President said.
He said that all enforcement should be handled within the instruments of the law.
“Security personnel should handle issues firmly but legally. Beating people is you giving our security forces a bad image! To the whole world. You’re weakening us. That beating which is illegal, pointless, what are you beating 4lfor? This is isolating us internationally and internally.”
Last week, the President warned the local defence unit personnel (LDUs) against hooliganism during night-time operations after reports that of some of them stormed people’s houses and beat occupants.
The president’s concern came after complaints by several members of the public about the behavior of some security officers while enforcing the curfew.
It has been reported in the past few days that many people have either been arrested or beaten by security officers after being found in their compounds or verandas during times of curfew.
The President later unleashed Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema to handle the security personnel that are misbehaving.
He said on Wednesday that he expected the security personnel to enforce the lockdown guidelines but following the law.
