The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Tribunal sitting in Gulu City today, has awarded Shs115m to different victims of freedoms and human rights violations.
The Awards were part of several decisions and rulings delivered today as the week-long Tribunal Sessions commenced. The sessions are being chaired by the Chairperson, Hon. Mariam Wangadya, at the UHRC Gulu Regional Offices. The other members of the panel are: Hon. Shifrah Lukwago, Hon. Simeo Nsubuga, and Hon. Jacklet Atuhaire Rwabukurukuru.
One of the decisions read by Hon. Atuhaire on behalf of the panel arose on October 13, 2003, when Pte Okello Ocii of Juliet Battalion, intentionally shot and killed Apio Grace, Agnes Atuku, and severely injured Doris Adong, aged 14 years then.
Apio’s brother, Lawrence Opio, filed a complaint to the commission seeking to hold the government vicariously liable for violating his sister’s right to life, while Adong brought the complaint in her own right for the violation of her freedom from Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
The Commission heard that the soldier first attempted to kill Apio on October 11, 2003, but he was arrested. He returned on October 14th and killed her along with Atuku.
“On October 14th, 2003, Ocii ordered us out; me, Apio and Atuku. He shot Apio, who ran and fell at a neighbor’s place. He returned to me, and I ran. He fired a bullet at the back of my head,” Adong narrated. The Commission believed her statement as a witness to the murder.
“We notice that what she told the tribunal on October 8th, 2019 was exactly what she had recorded in her statement on March 22nd, 2005. We therefore find that on the balance of probabilities that the respondent’s agent violated Adong’s right to protection from cruel and inhuman treatment. Throughout the material time Pte. Ocii was acting in the course of his employment as a servant of the state,” the Tribunal ruled and awarded Shs70m to Opio for violation of his sister’s right to life and Shs20m to Adong.
The same Tribunal awarded Shs25m to Moses Mogi, who was beaten repeatedly by prison officials at three different prisons; that is, Pece Local Government Prison, Central Government Prison Gulu, and Loro Prison Farm.
“Mogi Moses suffered extreme physical pain and mental agony at the hands of the O/C Loro Prison Farm, the Prison Warders and Katikkiros (fellow inmates) who severely beat him on the head, back, legs and feet. Worse, he had chronic chest pains and had suffered swollen hands and wounds on his fingers, owing to the hazardous work he had been subjected to at Pece Prison. Even with swollen hands and wounds, they forced him to pick rubbish, sweep the Boma and uproot beans. He was also denied medical treatment. Prison officials even blocked him from accessing the medicine his family had taken to him. The conditions to which Mogi was subjected while in Pece and Loro prisons were akin to slavery and servitude,” reads in part the decision read by Hon. Nsubuga on behalf of the panel.
The Director of Complaints, Investigation and Legal Services, Ms. Pauline Nansamba Mutumba, told journalists after the hearing that the awarded money shall carry an interest of 10% until payment in full and that the Commission will follow up with the UPDF and Uganda Prisons to ensure the victims get their due compensation. The Tribunal is handling a total of 20 complaints that arose within the Acholi Sub-region.
