East Kyoga police undergo human rights training ahead of elections

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At every election cycle, the police force comes under scrutiny over claims of violating the rights of political actors and their supporters.

With major parties having concluded their internal elections, the nomination of candidates is now set to begin this week, starting with local council leaders being nominated by the Electoral Commission.

Police officers in the Kyoga East region are preparing to provide security, and this week they began a one-week training on human rights.

The training is intended to prepare police officers and other justice actors to be sensitive to human rights when handling election matters, as well as when dealing with vulnerable groups such as women, children, and persons with disabilities.

“We have brought together police officers from all ranks, and we are talking to them on how to handle people from the human rights perspective during this political period,” said Senior Commissioner of Police Dr John Kamya, who heads the curriculum and doctrine.

The training, which ends on Friday, September 5, 2025, in Soroti city, has brought together police, prison officers, civil society, the judiciary, and the media.

Senior Commissioner of Police Dr John Kamya with the regional police commander Kyoga East, Ibrahim Siaga, after the training on Monday in Soroti city.

“So, it's our belief that after the training, the attitudes and the behaviours of officers will change for the better,” Kamya said.

Josephine Akello, the regional human rights officer, noted that a human rights violation was recorded during the NRM primaries, where suspects of crime were over-detained in police facilities.

“We urge and pray that the police officers abide by the laws and make sure that they balance between the victims of crime and ensure they respect the rights of suspects as they do their role,” Akello appealed.

She pointed out that officers in uniform should be aware of personal liability, provided for under the Human Rights (Enforcement) Act and the Anti-Torture Act 2012, which states that an individual officer, in the performance of his or her lawful duties, can be held personally accountable for violating human rights.

“In everything that we do, whether you are a police officer or what, human rights should be at the centre of your work and once we have human rights at the centre of our work, then there will be respect for human rights,” Akello explained.