Tribunal awards sh69.5m to Bunyoro victims of human right violation

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The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Tribunal sitting in Hoima has awarded shillings 69.5 million in damages to victims of torture and illegal detention in Police custody in Bunyoro region.

The tribunal, led by commission chairperson Mariam Wangadya, awarded four people who were maliciously arrested and tortured on false accusation of murder.

Other members of the commission are Hajat Shifrah Lukwago, Simeo Muwanga Nsubuga and Jackiet Atuhaire Rwabukurukuru.

The tribunal found that Simon Kirungi, and his wife Scovia Nsungwa, Fred Kyaligonza and Peregrini Kwikiriza were arrested on allegations that they had murdered Margaret Nsungwa, the sister of then Buhaguzi Member of Parliament Tom Kyahurwenda.

In a ruling delivered June 24, 2025, the Tribunal noted that on June 1, 2008, at about 9:00am, Kirungi was arrested by Police officers attached to Hoima Police Station and taken to Mugoro Forest.

According to the tribunal members, they forced Kirungi to carry the body parts of the deceased to the Police station where he was detained.

Kirungi, Kyaligonza and Kwikiriza said during their detention they were beaten by Police officers, who also burnt them with molten plastic, undressed and forced them to sit in red ants which bit them, and chopped off pieces of flesh from their bodies.

The trio stated that this prompted them to confess to the murder of Nsungwa. However, in May 2011, the Director of Public Prosecutions, dropped the murder claims against them.

“The Police violated the complainant’s rights to liberty when they spent over eight days in Police custody,” Wangadya said.