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Members of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, leaders, and supporters of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) have condemned the alleged torture of a social media critic of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba in Gulu City.
A video that circulated widely on social media on Sunday afternoon showed a popular TikToker, identified by his social media handle as Ocan Survivor, being slapped and questioned by individuals allegedly linked to the NRM and PLU. Stella Alimocan, commonly known as Otangalu, appeared to have been overseeing the incident.
Alimocan previously served as a female councilor for Kal and Pageya wards in Laroo-Pece Division and is a vocal supporter of the NRM and PLU.
In a three-minute-and-34-second video first posted on TikTok on Sunday, Ocan is seen being slapped by unidentified men at Da Covenant, a popular social events venue in Gulu City owned by Tony Kitara, a former NRM flag bearer in the Pece-Laroo Division parliamentary race.
Kitara recently endorsed Gen. Muhoozi for the presidency in 2031 during an event in Gulu City. Uganda Radio Network (URN) could not independently verify the identities of all the individuals captured in the video.
However, Alimocan’s voice is audible in the background as Ocan is slapped. Moments later, she is heard questioning him and asking him to identify himself and explain why he had been “arrested.”
Shirtless and visibly distressed, Ocan, who has made several posts criticizing Gen. Muhoozi in favour of the exiled National Unity Platform (NUP) party president Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi, says he was arrested over his social media remarks against Gen. Muhoozi.
In another video clip posted on TikTok, Alimocan, dressed in a white vest and black sweatpants and holding a stick, is seen asking Ocan to disclose the people allegedly sponsoring his online criticism of several individuals within and outside the Acholi Sub-region.
When contacted about the incident, Alimocan denied physically assaulting Ocan but argued that he deserved what she described as “traditional teachings” to stop him from insulting elders and women.
“In Acholi culture, it is not a crime to cane a young boy or girl. Even me, at my age, my clan has the right to cane me if I have wronged,” Alimocan said.
She denied that Ocan had been tortured, arguing that he was “very healthy” and in police custody.
However, security personnel in Gulu City centre said they had no record of Ocan being held at any detention facility within the city.
Kamba Amir, the Deputy Resident City Commissioner for Bardege-Laroo Division, on Monday described the alleged assault as unfortunate, particularly because the individuals involved were reportedly associated with the NRM.
“That’s not the best way to respond, even to what you think is wrong. The man may have made a mistake; however, beating him, especially on camera, is not good at all,” Amir said.
Amir added that investigations into the alleged torture could begin once the victim formally reports the matter to the police.
The incident has triggered condemnation from members of the NRM and PLU, some of whom fear that the actions of individuals associated with the groups could damage their reputations among grassroots supporters.
Tony Kitara, the proprietor of Da Covenant, denied involvement in the incident and questioned why those allegedly responsible had brought Ocan to his business premises.
“This is wrong. No matter what Ocan did, he doesn’t deserve to be treated , especially by someone who isn’t in any authority. It’s absolutely wrong. Even if it allegedly did not take place at Da Covenant, wherever it happened, it is still wrong. Even if it happened at a police station or in a village, it is still wrong,” Kitara said.
“Ocan may have his excesses, but you don’t answer with torture,” he added.
George Ovola, the NRM registrar for Gulu District, condemned the incident, saying Ocan should face the law if his social media statements violated any laws rather than being subjected to violence by individuals taking the law into their own hands.
Ovola warned that such actions could create a dangerous precedent and, if left unchecked, could threaten freedom of expression in the sub-region.
“That’s very wrong in terms of human rights. If he has abused someone, he has to be taken to the police. As NRM and PLU, they don’t support that. It is not that PLU or NRM supports torture. When somebody is wrong, the law should take its proper course,” Ovola said.
He urged young people to use social media responsibly and avoid allowing external influences to drive them into using online platforms to express anger or attack others.
If you have a story in your community or an opinion article, let’s publish it. Send us an email via citizenposts24@gmail.com. By URN
