Respect Rights, UHRC Tells Police
Mar 16, 2004
THE Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has said the Police topped the torture list with 541 of the 888 torture complaints lodged against the Force from 2000 to-date.
By Nelson Wesonga
THE Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has said the Police topped the torture list with 541 of the 888 torture complaints lodged against the Force from 2000 to-date.
The UHRC in charge of complaints and investigations, Veronica Eragu Bichetero said this during a UHRC-organised sensitisation workshop at Cardinal Nsubuga leadership centre, Nsambya on Monday.
She, however, said UHRC had received Police assurance that the Force would not tolerate any human rights violation any longer.
“Officers who follow orders that violate the human rights of suspects will be held personally accountable for their actions,†Bichetero said.
She said the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (113), Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (82), Violent Crime Crack Unit (VCCU) (50), former Operation Wembley (44) central Prisons (31) followed in that order.
Others were local administration Prisons (14) and the Internal Security Organisation (13)
The acting assistant commissioner of Police, John Kamya (community affairs), decried the inhumane arrest of suspects, saying it portrayed a negative image of the force.
He advised participants to acquaint themselves with the law.
“Read the Police and Local Government Acts so that you carry out your duties confident that your are knowledgeable about the law,†Kamya said.
An estimated 70 Police personnel from various stations attended the UHRC-organised workshop.
Ends
THE Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has said the Police topped the torture list with 541 of the 888 torture complaints lodged against the Force from 2000 to-date.
The UHRC in charge of complaints and investigations, Veronica Eragu Bichetero said this during a UHRC-organised sensitisation workshop at Cardinal Nsubuga leadership centre, Nsambya on Monday.
She, however, said UHRC had received Police assurance that the Force would not tolerate any human rights violation any longer.
“Officers who follow orders that violate the human rights of suspects will be held personally accountable for their actions,†Bichetero said.
She said the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (113), Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (82), Violent Crime Crack Unit (VCCU) (50), former Operation Wembley (44) central Prisons (31) followed in that order.
Others were local administration Prisons (14) and the Internal Security Organisation (13)
The acting assistant commissioner of Police, John Kamya (community affairs), decried the inhumane arrest of suspects, saying it portrayed a negative image of the force.
He advised participants to acquaint themselves with the law.
“Read the Police and Local Government Acts so that you carry out your duties confident that your are knowledgeable about the law,†Kamya said.
An estimated 70 Police personnel from various stations attended the UHRC-organised workshop.
Ends