A section of human rights activists under their umbrella body of the Human Rights Defenders Union Uganda (HRDUU) has castigated the Uganda Human Rights Commission for reportedly supporting the security officials who are tormenting them with numerous tortures.
These said that on two occasions Mrs. Mariam Wagadya, the UHRC Chairperson madam has taken to her Twitter handle to defend law enforcers.
“All too often, unarmed and peaceful activists have been violently apprehended and denied access to legal support in some instances. It is only later that they are often found not guilty by courts for the allegations made against them,” they said.
They made these remarks while addressing Journalists about the Plight Of Human Rights Activists in Uganda.
“We have gathered here this morning to air our concern about continued police brutality on civil and peaceful citizens. Every citizen has the unalienable right of free expression and access to information as guaranteed by the Constitution of Uganda,”
These, they said include the right for peaceful deliberation or protest over issues of corruption, persecution through courts, bad governance, and other forms of injustices by state actors.
Intentions
These said they intend to speak directly to the leadership of the Uganda Police Force, an institution they said has repeated brutality on human rights defenders; the Ministry of Internal affairs; the Parliament of Uganda; Statutory bodies like the Uganda Human Rights Commission, and the Uganda Law Society; and the UN Human Rights Commission.
“The Police have made it a habit to brutalize activists during apprehension and within police facilities. With little adherence to due process as per legal requirement, those apprehended are met with intimidation and degrading treatment,” Nalongo Nanamata Mwafirika, a co-founder of HRDUU said.
List of Victims
Speaking to reporters, Gawaya Teguke another co-founder of the body outlined some of the victims whom they said have been tormented, and these include;
Ronald was arrested by police at Parliament when he protested against delayed justice in courts of law.
He was on his way to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Headquarters.
Mbarikiwa was arrested at the Ministry of Finance Economic Planning Headquarters where she had gone to express concerns about the increase in the price of essential commodities.
She also wanted to query the use of over UGX 202bn to bail out Roko by committing taxpayers’ money to buy shares in a company that was on the verge of collapse.
Yasin Galiwango, Kabaale Ivan, and another activist from RAD Revolution Against Dictatorship were stopped and arrested by police at Kampala Road as they embarked on a journey to take groceries to starving prisoners at Luzira Prison who had communicated about the shortage of food at the facility.
Buwembo Habibu was kidnapped at his village of abode Wakaliga, jailed for a night at Jinja road police station, and arraigned at Buganda Road Court on 25 February 2022 on charges of threatening violence on a high-profile suspect.
“The suspect is the head of one of the government’s arms and has never stepped in court to defend her case against Buwembo. He was incarcerated at Luzira Murchison Bay for four months and after repeated denial of bail he was eventually released on bail,” he said
“The above cases are illustrative of how activists are portrayed as lawbreakers by the police despite the fact that they are simply exercising their constitutional rights. Their efforts are repeatedly blocked by the police. All these unwarranted and brutal acts of injustice have taken place in the span of five months this year,” he added
Demands
These further made demands that they want the government to implement to end what they called brutality including;
- Police should stop using brutality on arresting peaceful protesters
2. The parliament of Uganda should expedite the HUMANRIGHTS DEFENDERS BILL to turn into law to reinforce the anti-torture act and human rights act. It will serve as a reference point for handling activists, especially when found in the line of legitimate activism
3. The police should differentiate or have a distinction between Human rights defenders/activists and POLITICIANS the two have similarities but aren’t the same. The former is non-partisan non-violent and peaceful in their actions, the latter can choose to have all other similarities except being partisan
4. Uganda police force should have a human rights desk separate from the political desk which handles political cases which is a mix-up in handling human rights activists’ cases as political cases.
5. Arresting and framing HRDS/Activists as a culture and scheme as a punishment to dissuade them from standing up for justice as a worthy cause is unlawful as evidenced by acquittals of activists and should stop
6. The chairperson of UHRC Mrs. Mariam WANGADYA should desist from issuing general public statements sympathetic to law enforcers because the bad apples will take advantage of that to continue torturing suspects during arrest and in their custody.
“As a community of activists for the betterment of the livelihoods of all citizens in Uganda, we have endeavored to engage those in authority. Our efforts have been met with violent apprehension and detentions – often unnecessary and disproportionate,” Tegule said adding,
“We hereby present an appeal that the Uganda Police Force desist from the use of unwarranted, unethical, and unprofessional approaches to engaging with human rights activists in Uganda and instead support the creation of an environment that is suitable for democracy, rule of law, good governance, social justice, equality, and freedom,”
