Policemen ignorant of the law - UHRC report

By John Odyek

Some policemen and women have not read the Constitution and the Penal Code that they are supposed to enforce, according to the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC).

“When we go for field monitoring visits, we find policemen without the Constitution or Penal Code. How do you enforce the law when you have not seen the Constitution,” Meddie Kaggwa, the commission’s boss, said.

He said this while presenting the UHRC 2012 report to Rebecca Kadaga, Speaker of Parliament.

The function took place in the Speaker’s boardroom in Parliament.

Kaggwa said the Police and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions should be well trained and equipped.

He said that Bills before Parliament should not be passed if they violate human rights.

The commission’s 15th annual report looks at the state of human rights in Uganda in 2012 and makes recommendations.

The commission in 2012 received a total of 2,725 complaints and registered 706 new complaints on human rights violations, representing a 31% decrease from 1,021 complaints recorded in 2011.

The report said torture constituted 35.5% of the complaints.

It was followed by detention beyond 48 hours recorded at 27.16% and denial of child maintenance recorded at 17.13%. Deprivation of property was recorded at 6.4% and killing 3.15%.

The report revealed that the majority of new complaints were against the Police, where 346 cases were followed by private individuals.

Kadaga disclosed that the shortage of judges was leading to an increase in case backlog.

She observed that access to justice by people with disability was a nightmare.

Jovah Kamateeka, the chairperson of the human rights committee of Parliament, emphasised that there was severe congestion in prisons.

The report noted the positive development in places of detention such as the phasing out of use of buckets as toilets and respect for the freedom of worship.

It also noted that the welfare of Prisons and Police staff was poor.

On freedom of expression, the report said the quality of work of media houses and the environment they operate in is wanting.