A/HRC/13/42* page 126 270. No reply to these communications was received from the Government. At the time of writing, the National Assembly was considering a new national security bill, which would confirm the sweeping powers of the NISS, including detention without judicial control for up to 30 days. 6. Uganda 271. In 2004, when the Human Rights Committee addressed claims that “safe houses” were being used by the Government of Uganda as places of unacknowledged detention, where persons had been subjected to torture by military personnel, the Committee expressed its concern that State agents continued arbitrarily to deprive persons of their liberty, including in unacknowledged places of detention, in particular in northern Uganda. It was also concerned about the widespread practice of torture and ill-treatment of persons detained by the military as well as by other law enforcement officials.477 272. In 2005, the Committee against Torture followed up on the report of the Human Rights Committee, stating that it had taken note of the explanation provided by the delegation about the outlawing of “ungazetted” or unauthorized places of detention or “safe houses”, where people had been subjected to torture by military personnel. Nevertheless, it remains concerned about the widespread practice of torture and ill-treatment of persons detained by the military and other law enforcement officials.478 273. The Committee recommended that the Government of Uganda abolish the use of ungazetted or unauthorized places of detention or “safe houses”, and immediately provide information about all places of detention.478 274. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in her report on the work of her Office in Uganda, stated that, immediately prior to the elections, in early February 2006, violent incidents were reported, with several people injured or killed in various locations. Opposition politicians, supporters and media personnel were subjected to harassment, arbitrary arrests and detentions by security operatives, including from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence and the Violent Crimes Crack Unit, and some elements of the Army. People arrested on charges of treason claimed to have been tortured, or suffered other forms of ill-treatment in ungazetted safe houses.479 It was also noted in the report that in June 2006, a spokesperson for the Uganda People’s Defence Force publicly recognized the existence of ungazetted safe houses, arguing their necessity for the purpose of protecting witnesses (protective custody).480 275. Nevertheless, in April 2009, Human Rights Watch issued a report in which it indicated that, between 2006 and 2008, at least 106 people had been held in a secret detention centre in 477 CCPR/CO/80/UGA, para.17. 478 CAT/C/CR/34/UGA, para.7. 479 A/HRC/4/49/Add.2, para 5. 480 A/HRC/4/49/Add.2, footnote 1.