By Hillary Nsambu

THE Government should abolish safe houses and stop detaining suspects illegally, because it violates people’s human rights and freedoms.

Court of Appeal judge Justice Amos Twinomujuni sounded the call when presenting a paper on the theme “operationalising the constitutional right to bail and challenges”.

This was during a two-day roundtable conference on ‘strengthening judicial independence in Uganda’, which was organised by Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel, Entebbe on Tuesday.

Twinomujuni (right) said so many people were being illegally detained in executive buildings in Nakasero, Kololo and elsewhere in places called safe houses, including Police stations, prisons and army barracks.

“In fact most of the installations of our security organisations have actually become safe houses, whether gazetted or not. Unless efforts are directed at putting this menace to a total halt, the constitutional rights to freedom and liberty are seriously endangered,” the judge said.

Uganda Human Rights commission chief Margaret Ssekaggya also condemned the safe houses, saying they should not be existing in a democratic state.

He was applauded by the participants, who included judges, court registrars, magistrates and observers.