Govt ordered to pay tortured man sh35m

Jun 11, 2008

TAXPAYERS will have to foot the sh35m, which the Uganda Human Rights Commission ordered the attorney general to pay as damages to a torture victim.

By Moses Nampala

TAXPAYERS will have to foot the sh35m, which the Uganda Human Rights Commission ordered the attorney general to pay as damages to a torture victim.

Dismus Iwolot lost his sexual power after he was tortured by State security agents in Tororo district over allegations that he had an illegal gun.

Commissioner Constantine Karusoke ruled that the Government should give Iwolot sh25m in general damages for violation of his rights to protection from torture, cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment; sh5m for deprivation of his rights to personal liberty and sh5m for extemporary damages.

“State officials must be discouraged by all means from acting oppressively, arbitrarily or unconstitutionally,” Karusoke said in statement dated March 17.

“I was arrested on November 23, 2002 by the then officer in charge Tororo Central Police Station, Jeremiah Isiko and one Mugenyi, an intelligence officer then attached to Malaba revenue check point,” Iwolot said.

He added that he was briefly detained at the check point and the Police station before being transferred to Bugema military barracks in Mbale from where he was released on December 10, 2002 without being charged.

The tribunal heard that Mugenyi twisted Iwolot’s testicles, while asking him where he hid the gun.

The complainant said at the Police station and army barracks he was handcuffed, caned daily using rubber sticks and denied food for days.

Iwolot’s wife and a physician testified.

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