Members of Parliament on the Public Accounts Committee (Central Government) have raised concerns over reports of Ugandans who are declared missing by their families but later discovered to be in police custody.
The legislators questioned the Deputy Inspector General of Police, James Ochaya, demanding explanations on how such cases are investigated and how police account for suspects who are reportedly taken to stations without their relatives being informed.
Hon. Karim Masaba, the Member of Parliament for Mbale Industrial Division, challenged the police leadership to explain the procedures followed when people disappear and are later found detained at police facilities. He asked how authorities ensure that individuals picked up during investigations are properly recorded and their whereabouts communicated to concerned parties.
The committee, chaired by Hon. Patrick Nsamba Oshabe, also raised concerns about whether the Uganda Police Force is fully complying with the constitutional requirement of presenting suspects before courts of law within the legally required timeframe.
The legislators said accountability and respect for citizens’ rights must remain central in law enforcement operations. They emphasized that families of missing persons deserve timely information and that police must maintain clear records of all individuals in custody.
The questions come amid growing public concern over cases where relatives spend days or weeks searching for missing persons before discovering that they are being held at police stations or other security facilities.
The committee urged the police to strengthen transparency in handling arrests and investigations to build public confidence and ensure that the rights of suspects and their families are protected.
