The whereabouts of assistant superintendent of police (ASP) Charles Twiine, the former spokesperson of the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), remain a mystery after he was ‘handed over’ to the elite Special Forces Command (SFC), according to multiple sources within the Uganda Police Force.
Twiine, who has been serving as a CID officer attached to parliament since his transfer from CID headquarters three years ago, was reportedly summoned Tuesday night for a meeting with Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abas Byakagaba and his deputy, Maj Gen James Ochaya.
He travelled back to Kampala late in the evening after spending the day accompanying members of parliament on official duties. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that Twine arrived at the police headquarters in Naguru as early as 7:30 am on Wednesday morning and subsequently held a meeting with the IGP and his deputy.
The exact nature and cause of the meeting remain unclear, but shortly after the high-level engagement, Twine was reportedly handed over to SFC officers who had been waiting in a parked vehicle within the police compound. After the meeting, according to sources, SFC soldiers took him away, and his vehicle is still parked at police, and none of his known phone numbers are going through.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) acting spokesperson, Col Chris Magezi, when contacted, directed inquiries to SFC spokesperson Maj Jimmy Omara.
“I haven’t got any information regarding Twine’s arrest by our officers. But let me verify, and I will provide the information when I get it,” said Omara.
The SFC is an elite military unit responsible for the security of President Yoweri Museveni, his family, and critical state installations. However, the unit has come under criticism in recent years for its alleged involvement in abductions, particularly targeting supporters of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP).
One of the most high-profile recent cases was the abduction of Bobi Wine’s bodyguard, Edward Ssebuwuufu, alias Eddie Mutwe, who was held incommunicado for several days.
Twine rose to prominence during his tenure as CID spokesperson under the leadership of former CID Director Grace Akullo. His abrupt removal followed the appointment of Maj Tom Magambo to head CID, after which Twine was reassigned to parliament.
At the time of publishing, no official charges had been announced against Twine, and his whereabouts remain unknown. The secrecy surrounding his arrest and detention by a military unit raises fresh concerns about due process and the growing role of SFC in internal law enforcement matters.
EKILYA ATABAALA ………
Police handing over a suspect to SFC is unlawful
39 years down the road, who in his/her right state of mind can still deny that: since its Luweero Days, from 6th Feb 1981 or earlier; like an “OCCUPATION ARMY the NRA/UPDF is non, but an ANTI PEOPLE and DESTABILIZING FORCE (APDF) in the lives and properties of Ugandans.
In other words, except brutality, abduction, torture, indefinite imprisonment, force disappearances and militarily fighting Ugandans; how many foreign enemies/armies/forces has the UPDF fought in defense of Ugandan citizens?
None!
It neither fought Congolese, Somali, Sudanese, Rwandese, Kenyans nor Tanzanian enemy. But as a destabilizing force against Ugandans, it even has the liberty and given the green light to constantly and/or indefinitely be in hot pursuit of politically disagreeable Ugandans who flee into these immediate neighboring countries.
Sadly, it is e.g. a matter of phone call, eager and quick to respond and defend the falling regime in South Sudan, using our hard earn and purchased military hardware and/or military personnel.
Otherwise, since when has the illegal SFC outfit become the alternative Uganda Police, to do whatever it wants, to: raid and abduct member of the opposition, raid Police stations and brutalize police officers and/or arrest officer like Afande Charles Twiine of this country in the precinct of the CID Headquarter?
What a cursed and miserable country we live and die in, under the leadership of confessed criminals!
This regime is worst than those of Obote and Amin. It earns an Oscar in the arts of torture and disappearances. I will make a very sad history in the annuls of Uganda. I think this era will always be remembered like that of Hitler and all the names of those horrible men involved like so and so, you know them. Sorry to say that.
Mae, why is it that: although Amin (RIP) passed on 22 years (2003), and Obote (RIP) pass on 20 years ago in Oct 2005, BUT abductions, the art of torture, forced disappearances, indefinite imprisonment of opposition members and extrajudicial murder goes on uninterrupted under Gen Tibuhaburwa’s 39 years and counting regime?
It means, in order to paint Amin and Obote II Regimes Black to the whole wide world, it was Gen Tibuhaburwa abductors and murder squad who were “planted enemy within” security apparatus, behind all the heinous and diabolic acts of human rights violations.
In other words, it confirms why e.g. in 2017, especially after the SFC thrashed the opposition during the passing of the Bill to remove the “Presidential Age-limit”; our “Problem of Africa”, Tibuhaburwa bragged and told the whole wide world that he is the “Author and Master of Violence”.