The Security Minister, Hon Gen Elly Tumwine, has told the parliamentary committee on human rights that safe houses in the country are used for positive purposes and not torture or any other bad thing as alleged.
The General said that a safe house is a secure place used for intelligence work, adding that all intelligence and security agencies world over operate them.
He said that some people wondered how he could mention that there are safe houses in the country but wondered how he could tell lies.
“I cannot come here and tell you that there are no safe houses yet they have been there all this time that I have been in the security system. I have been in high positions for 38 years,” Gen Tumwine said.
He also noted that while there is no law that supports the existence of safe houses, no law bars it either.
The minister also said that no Ugandan should be worried because safe houses are there to correct wrongs and not to violate people’s rights.
He also noted that before one becomes a freedom fighter, they must be human rights activists. The General noted that, as the minister, he doesn’t condone torture and noted that President Museveni would not tolerate violation of human rights.
Gen Tumwine also reiterated his position that the MPs are not welcome to visit safe houses in the country for security reasons.