Government has denied allegations that its security forces committed human rights abuses during operations against separatists loyal to a local monarch in the western town of Kasese.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are urging an independent investigation after images appeared on social media showing dead bodies with hands tied behind their backs, dumped after having apparently been summarily executed.
The government says 62 have been killed in the clashes over the weekend.
Gen Jeje Odong, Uganda’s minister for internal affairs, denied allegations that there had been extrajudicial killings:
“What happened is a situation of self-defence. What do you do if I come to you, wanting to pierce you with a knife? Do you allow me to do it? Or you try to protect yourself?
So this is really what happened that afternoon, in the palace. Security forces were being attacked, they had to defend themselves; they had to protect themselves.”
The king of Rwenzururu, Charles Wesley Mumbere, has been charged with murder and remanded in custody until 13 December.
