Claims Torture By Norway Customs Officials

[Letter To The Editor]

I want The Black Star News to tell the world and human rights campaigners what I have underwent at the hands of the Norway Customs  officials during my working tour of Europe.

I left Uganda on July 21 to represent my organization, Bethesda International, Uganda, based in Jinja. I spent a night in Dubai. I  spent one week in Germany for meetings; then I went to Sweden for a week for a couple of meetings and holiday tour. On August 3, 2009, at  12:00 hours I boarded a bus, Number 820, from Göteborg Nils E. Terminal to Oslo Gallerian for arrival at 15:45 Oslo time.

However my problems started when we arrived at the Customs check point on the Norway side. Being the only Black and African person I was singled out and removed from the bus. Everyone on the bus was only asked for the identification cards and, or, passport which I had. I was also informed that they also check for drugs at this point. Just as I was the only Black person on the bus I also had the smallest bag and therefore very easy to check but this was no to be true.

I was arrested, detained, tortured both physically and mentally while being called a drug addict and trafficker. I was told that Africans who come to Norway only come to bring drugs. I was hit by one man for no reason on my back which is still paining me.

I have suffered a lot and I want, through your newspaper, to pass my questions and to the Embassy of Norway and the government of  Norway. Why was I treated like this? Even if, assuming I had been a criminal, are customs officials the ones who met out punishment?

I was later released without any charges. Why was I not taken to court to face charges if I had a case to answer? Why was my human rights abused in a country called Norway?