The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Tribunal sitting today at the Jinja Regional Office, has commenced hearing of cases of human rights violations that arose within the Busoga and Bukedi Sub-regions. The panel chaired by the Chairperson Hon. Mariam Wangadya set out to hear a total of nine complaints and has already awarded a total of Shs18.1m in compensation to victims of human rights violations. The other members of the panel included Commissioners: Hon. Shifrah Lukwago, Hon. Jacklet Atuhaire Rwabukurukuru, and Hon. Simeo Muwanga Nsubuga.
The complaints mainly relate to the alleged violation of the right to personal liberty and the right to freedom from torture, cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. The Tribunal has delivered 5 decisions out of the 9 complaints, awarding damages in two of the decisions.
In one of the decisions, the Tribunal has awarded Shs10m (Ten Million Uganda shillings) to Bakaki Yusuf, a 47-year-old peasant of Tse-Tse Cell, Ikulwe Ward, Mayuge Town Council, Mayuge District, as compensation for the violation of his right to personal liberty. Bakaki alleged that in 2018, two Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) officers of Mayuge Police Station accused him of “spreading rumours that the then RDC and some Police Officers were selling guns and Police uniform to civilians”. They detained him at Mayuge Police Station from 8th February 2018 to 23rd February 2018. The Tribunal has found that Bakaki’s arrest and detention was not premised on any reasonable suspicion that he had committed any crime.
“It was simply malicious, vindictive and punitive,” reads the decision.
The Tribunal also awarded Shs8.1m (Eight Million, One Hundred Thousand Shillings) to Rwecungura Paul, a 56-year-old peasant of Magamaga, Buwenge, Kagoma, Jinja District as compensation for violation of his right to protection from torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, and violation of his right to personal liberty. Rwecungura was arrested and detained at Buwenge Police Station on 11th December 2013 until 20th December 2013 when he had gone to report the mysterious death and disappearance of cattle under his care. During his detention, Rwecungura alleged that he was severely beaten by Police Officers to compel him confess to having stolen the cattle and reveal where they were. The Tribunal held that Rwecungura’s rights were indeed violated and that he is entitled to compensation.
While speaking to the media, Rwecungura thanked the UHRC for investigating his matter and for its good work. He informed the media that ever since he lodged a complaint with the Commission, there have been no cases of torture by the Police at Buwenge Police Station. The Chairperson, while addressing the media, cautioned Ugandans against filing false complaints with the Commission. This was after the Tribunal dismissed some complaints with costs on grounds of containing falsehoods.
