The Human Rights Focus has challenged the Uganda People's Defence Forces to prove its credibility in the Monday executions by telling the public what happened to the soldier who whipped Fr. Declan O'Toole in Nakipelmoru March 9.
The rights group said in a lengthy statement yesterday, the lack of credibility has thrown suspicion over previous killing and assault of missionaries near UPDF detachments.
"We do recall the burning to death of Rev. Fr. Rafaele Depari, a Verona Missionary in Pajule, Pader district on Oct. 1, 2000.
Rev. Fr. Tarsisio a Verona missionary from Pajule Catholic Parish survived death narrowly when UPDF mobile forces ambushed (him) July 15, 2001 at Pajule. The Army killed one child and wounded one rebel who had come with intention to surrender under the Amnesty Law. The Army later apologized and blamed the incident on lack of coordination on their (Army's) part," the statement signed by James Otto the Secretary General, read.
He said the army should compensate the people of Panyangara Catholic Parish where the priest worked for five years. The rights group also recommended that the army uses competent court systems for such trials, to give chance for appeal and proper justice.
Meanwhile, former Minister of Health and veteran politician Adoko Nekyon has criticized organisations condemning the UPDF execution, saying they are acting "posthumously".
Nekyon told The Monitor yesterday the same people now spitting on UPDF's actions did nothing when the institution announced that it would execute the culprits.
"Col. Sula Semakula had announced in advance that the suspects would be executed after a field court martial. He didn't add the clause 'if found guilty'," the elderly politician said.
He said those concerned about the executions should have come out before the army did anything, instead of waiting for the execution to come out with condemnations.
"The country should remember it was the same Semakula who regretted that his Div. 3 hadn't been brought to Kampala to crush the Uganda People's Congress when the Police shot a journalism student at Uganda House (Jan. 12)," he said.
On Tuesday Col. Semakula directed the killing by firing squad, of two UPDF officers implicated in the murder of the Irish Catholic Priest in Kotido the previous week.
Cpl. James Omedio and Pte. Abdallah Mohammed were tried and shot for allegedly killing Fr. O'Toole and two of his aides.
The Irish government, Mill Hill Fathers missionaries, MPs, as well as human rights organisations came out strongly to condemn the act.
Nekyon said Ugandans should instead focus on advocating the abolition of the death penalty, which may claim the lives of innocent people.
He said there was no difference between the barbaric acts of former president Idi Amin and what happened in Kotido three days ago.
"Let us put the pictures of the victim who was tied half naked to a tree, side by side with that of Capt. Masaba who was executed at the Clock Tower by Amin's soldiers, then we shall clearly read the writing on the wall," Nekyon said.
He said death sentences only hurt innocent relatives, because once killed the culprit does not feel the pain.