MIDWEEK OPINION: Okumu, Okello-Okello are spot on
Feb 18, 2003
RONALD Reagan Okumu, ASWA MP and former parliamentarian Livingstone Okello-Okello must be applauded for successfully taking legal action against government over the 21 people who were arrested and detained by the army last year in northern Uganda.<br>
With John Kakande
RONALD Reagan Okumu, ASWA MP and former parliamentarian Livingstone Okello-Okello must be applauded for successfully taking legal action against government over the 21 people who were arrested and detained by the army last year in northern Uganda.
Peter Oloya, one of the 21 people arrested on accusations that they were Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) collaborators, died in military detention.
Last Friday High Court judge, Justice Augustine Kania, ordered the Government to pay sh230m as compensation to the 21 victims, including the relatives of the deceased Peter Oloya.
Okumu and Okello Okello’s legal action was in accordance with Article 23(7) of the Constitution that categorically provides that “a person unlawfully arrested, restricted or detained by any other person or authority, shall be entitled to compensation from that person or authority.â€
This is the first time I know of politicians who have taken legal action to seek redress for their people. Quite often politicians, particularly MPs simply engage in rhetoric and politicking to attract media attention when they speak about human rights violations.
They only make eloquent speeches at meetings or floor of the House. They rarely take concrete legal action to defend the rights of their constituents or supporters.
On February 12, for instance, MPs Maj. John Kazoora, Geoffrey Ekanya, Michael Mabikke and Issa Kikungwe, alleged in Parliament that some suspects were tortured using snakes, crocodiles and termites to extract confessions.
These are extremely serious allegations in view of the provisions of Article 24 of the Constitution, which prohibits “any form of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.â€
If the intention of the MPs was not mere politicking, but to bring an end to the inhuman, illegal and criminal practices then they ought to do a lot more. The MPs must substantiate the torture allegations and they must cause action to be taken. MPs could move a motion asking Parliament to institute investigations into the torture allegations. Another option is to do what Okumu and Okello-Okello did.
The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) is facing a risk of becoming irrelevant because of its failure to deal promptly and effectively with complaints of human rights violations.
In February 2002, Matovu Kabuye, complained to the UHRC that his rights had been violated by the operatives of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence and Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force (JATT).
Matovu Kabuye alleged that he was arrested, detained and subjected to cruel and inhuman treatment by CMI and JATT operatives before he was handed over to Kiira Police Station and subsequently freed without charge. A year later, Kabuye has not received any redress.
There must be many others who have complained to the UHRC but have not received justice! Ends
RONALD Reagan Okumu, ASWA MP and former parliamentarian Livingstone Okello-Okello must be applauded for successfully taking legal action against government over the 21 people who were arrested and detained by the army last year in northern Uganda.
Peter Oloya, one of the 21 people arrested on accusations that they were Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) collaborators, died in military detention.
Last Friday High Court judge, Justice Augustine Kania, ordered the Government to pay sh230m as compensation to the 21 victims, including the relatives of the deceased Peter Oloya.
Okumu and Okello Okello’s legal action was in accordance with Article 23(7) of the Constitution that categorically provides that “a person unlawfully arrested, restricted or detained by any other person or authority, shall be entitled to compensation from that person or authority.â€
This is the first time I know of politicians who have taken legal action to seek redress for their people. Quite often politicians, particularly MPs simply engage in rhetoric and politicking to attract media attention when they speak about human rights violations.
They only make eloquent speeches at meetings or floor of the House. They rarely take concrete legal action to defend the rights of their constituents or supporters.
On February 12, for instance, MPs Maj. John Kazoora, Geoffrey Ekanya, Michael Mabikke and Issa Kikungwe, alleged in Parliament that some suspects were tortured using snakes, crocodiles and termites to extract confessions.
These are extremely serious allegations in view of the provisions of Article 24 of the Constitution, which prohibits “any form of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.â€
If the intention of the MPs was not mere politicking, but to bring an end to the inhuman, illegal and criminal practices then they ought to do a lot more. The MPs must substantiate the torture allegations and they must cause action to be taken. MPs could move a motion asking Parliament to institute investigations into the torture allegations. Another option is to do what Okumu and Okello-Okello did.
The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) is facing a risk of becoming irrelevant because of its failure to deal promptly and effectively with complaints of human rights violations.
In February 2002, Matovu Kabuye, complained to the UHRC that his rights had been violated by the operatives of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence and Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force (JATT).
Matovu Kabuye alleged that he was arrested, detained and subjected to cruel and inhuman treatment by CMI and JATT operatives before he was handed over to Kiira Police Station and subsequently freed without charge. A year later, Kabuye has not received any redress.
There must be many others who have complained to the UHRC but have not received justice! Ends