Torture victims to get sh51m
Jan 23, 2008
TAXPAYERS will have to foot a sh51m bill that has been awarded to three torture victims by the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) tribunal that sat in Gulu on Monday.
By Chris Ocowun
TAXPAYERS will have to foot a sh51m bill that has been awarded to three torture victims by the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) tribunal that sat in Gulu on Monday.
The tribunal heard that on March 19, 2003, UPDF soldiers attached to the 5th Division detained and tortured Venansio Opar, Martin Ocaya and Samuel Lwanga for unknown reasons. They were held for 35 days in six different army and police barracks.
The tribunal ordered the Attorney General, the chief government legal adviser, to pay sh10m to each of the men for the violation of their rights to personal liberty contrary to Article 23 of the Constitution.
It further ordered the Attorney General to pay sh7m to each of the victims for the abuse of their rights to protection against torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment contrary to Article 24.
The tribunal was chaired by the commission’s regional officer in Gulu, Bernard Turyashemererwa, on behalf of the area commissioner, Constantine Karusoke.
Ocaya said they were detained at Gang-Dyang army detach in Kitgum for six days and later transferred to Pajimo, Achol-Pii, Lira, Gulu army barracks and then to Gulu Police Station from where they were released on April 23, 2003 without being charged .
Ocaya added that at Achol-Pii army detach, they were tortured by soldier inmates with whom they were locked up in an underground cell. He said Opar was boxed and kicked randomly, causing pain in his ear, neck and chest.
Ocaya claimed that the soldiers took his sh550,000. "The money, wrist watch, a key and identity card, were removed from me at Gang-Dyang by three soldiers. They never returned the items," he told the tribunal.
"The Attorney General is further ordered to refund sh550,000 to Ocaya," Turyashemererwa ruled.
He said some soldiers and Police officers had taken advantage of the LRA insurgency to misbehave.
Over the years, the tribunal has ordered numerous awards against the Attorney General for cases of torture.
However, the tribunal dismissed a case filed by Charles Obong, Moses Okwir, Joseph Oryem and Tom Lawrence Akuma against the Police over claims of torture.
TAXPAYERS will have to foot a sh51m bill that has been awarded to three torture victims by the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) tribunal that sat in Gulu on Monday.
The tribunal heard that on March 19, 2003, UPDF soldiers attached to the 5th Division detained and tortured Venansio Opar, Martin Ocaya and Samuel Lwanga for unknown reasons. They were held for 35 days in six different army and police barracks.
The tribunal ordered the Attorney General, the chief government legal adviser, to pay sh10m to each of the men for the violation of their rights to personal liberty contrary to Article 23 of the Constitution.
It further ordered the Attorney General to pay sh7m to each of the victims for the abuse of their rights to protection against torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment contrary to Article 24.
The tribunal was chaired by the commission’s regional officer in Gulu, Bernard Turyashemererwa, on behalf of the area commissioner, Constantine Karusoke.
Ocaya said they were detained at Gang-Dyang army detach in Kitgum for six days and later transferred to Pajimo, Achol-Pii, Lira, Gulu army barracks and then to Gulu Police Station from where they were released on April 23, 2003 without being charged .
Ocaya added that at Achol-Pii army detach, they were tortured by soldier inmates with whom they were locked up in an underground cell. He said Opar was boxed and kicked randomly, causing pain in his ear, neck and chest.
Ocaya claimed that the soldiers took his sh550,000. "The money, wrist watch, a key and identity card, were removed from me at Gang-Dyang by three soldiers. They never returned the items," he told the tribunal.
"The Attorney General is further ordered to refund sh550,000 to Ocaya," Turyashemererwa ruled.
He said some soldiers and Police officers had taken advantage of the LRA insurgency to misbehave.
Over the years, the tribunal has ordered numerous awards against the Attorney General for cases of torture.
However, the tribunal dismissed a case filed by Charles Obong, Moses Okwir, Joseph Oryem and Tom Lawrence Akuma against the Police over claims of torture.