Rights body probes DPC over torture
Sep 12, 2011
THE Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) is investigating Oyam district Police commander (DPC), Stephen Onen-can, over allegations of torturing an inmate.
By PASCAL KWESIGA
THE Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) is investigating Oyam district Police commander (DPC), Stephen Onen-can, over allegations of torturing an inmate.
Human right’s public relations manager Florence Munyirwa told New Vision yesterday that Philip Ocen, 80, filed a complaint with UHRC saying the DPC ordered inmates to torture him when he was in Police cells in July.
“We are investigating Onen-can and we have written to him, but he has not yet responded,†Munyirwa said.
Ocen, a resident of Awiyo village in Icieme sub-county, Oyam district, also alleges that the DPC ordered his arrest at Oyam Police Station where he had gone to file a complaint.
Ocen was reportedly filing the complaint against Ogwal Okwir who had allegedly impounded his bull. The bull had reportedly injured Ogwal’s 12-year-old daughter on July 24.
Ocen alleged that he heard Onen-can directing the inmates to beat him up.
He said a group of over 10 inmates rained blows on his head and chest for about 30 minutes in a dark and tiny cell.
He said he made alarms and called out the Police officers on duty to come to his rescue, but in vain.
As a result, Ocen said he sustained injuries on his jaw and still experiences severe pain in the head and chest. He was reportedly released after about an hour.
A medical report dated August 4, shows that Ocen sustained loose teeth on the lower jaw, wounds on the lower lip and swollen ribs.
He explained that he reported the incident to the district chairman, Col. Okello Engola, who asked the Police to give him a medical form to seek treatment two days later.
THE Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) is investigating Oyam district Police commander (DPC), Stephen Onen-can, over allegations of torturing an inmate.
Human right’s public relations manager Florence Munyirwa told New Vision yesterday that Philip Ocen, 80, filed a complaint with UHRC saying the DPC ordered inmates to torture him when he was in Police cells in July.
“We are investigating Onen-can and we have written to him, but he has not yet responded,†Munyirwa said.
Ocen, a resident of Awiyo village in Icieme sub-county, Oyam district, also alleges that the DPC ordered his arrest at Oyam Police Station where he had gone to file a complaint.
Ocen was reportedly filing the complaint against Ogwal Okwir who had allegedly impounded his bull. The bull had reportedly injured Ogwal’s 12-year-old daughter on July 24.
Ocen alleged that he heard Onen-can directing the inmates to beat him up.
He said a group of over 10 inmates rained blows on his head and chest for about 30 minutes in a dark and tiny cell.
He said he made alarms and called out the Police officers on duty to come to his rescue, but in vain.
As a result, Ocen said he sustained injuries on his jaw and still experiences severe pain in the head and chest. He was reportedly released after about an hour.
A medical report dated August 4, shows that Ocen sustained loose teeth on the lower jaw, wounds on the lower lip and swollen ribs.
He explained that he reported the incident to the district chairman, Col. Okello Engola, who asked the Police to give him a medical form to seek treatment two days later.