MPs draft Bill on human rights

Feb 18, 2015

THE parliamentary committee on human rights has drafted a Bill intended to penalise people who abuse rights of others. Article 50 (4) mandates Parliament to make laws for the enforcement of rights and freedoms

By Joyce Namutebi

 

THE parliamentary committee on human rights has drafted a Bill intended to penalise people who abuse rights of others.

 

The committee chaired by Jovah Kamateeka (Mitooma, NRM) on Tuesday started scrutinising the Human Rights (Enforcement) Bill.

 

Kamateeka said the Bill’s objective is to give effect to Article 50 (4) of the Constitution by providing for the procedure for enforcing human rights under Chapter Four of the Constitution on rights and freedoms.

 

Article 50 (4) mandates Parliament to make laws for the enforcement of rights and freedoms under Chapter 4 of the Constitution.

 

“We are looking at the possibility of having one law that operationalises rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution,” Kamateeka told journalists.

 

She observed that “there are bits and pieces on enforcement in various legislations, but government has not come up with a specific law.”

 

“We are operationalizing the constitution so that whoever abuses rights of others, there is a specific penalty,” she said.

 

The MPs observe that since 1995 when the Constitution was promulgated, parliament has never enacted any law under Article 50 (4) providing for enforcement of human rights by all persons, institutions and organs of government.

 

The Bill, according to sources, mandates the High Court to hear and determine any application relating to the enforcement or violation of human rights.

 

It further empowers the High Court to, after hearing a matter relating to the protection or enforcement of human rights, make such orders that are necessary to remedy the breach or secure the enjoyment of the right to freedom.

 

“The High Court shall not exercise its powers here if it is satisfied that adequate redress for the alleged violation is available to the person concerned under any other law,” the Bill proposes.

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