Human Rights Commission to popularise Enforcement Act

Drawing to its constitutional obligation, the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has embarked on plans to popularise the human rights enforcement Act of 2019. 

The Act is aimed at among others, providing for the procedure of enforcing human rights under chapter four of the constitution.

The commission will conduct programmes on education and information to enhance respect for human rights, create awareness on the constitution. 

In addition, it will inculcate awareness in Ugandans, on their civic responsibilities and appreciation of their rights and obligations as free people.

This was revealed by Dr Katebalirwe Amooti the Ag. Chairperson for UHRC, during a one-day capacity building training on the popularization of human rights enforcement. 

The first training involved members of security agencies, law enforcement, justice institutions and public defenders. 

Training is expected to resume on Tuesday. Participants are tasked to actualise the objectives of the law, and ultimately improve the general observance of human rights in Uganda.

Dr Amooti noted that the law is relatively new, having come into force in 2019.

"We should have had the training much earlier but the Covid-19 pandemic stalled it," said the acting chairperson UHRC.
He further remarked that the Act complements other national and international mechanisms of enforcing human rights, most of which are applicable to Uganda.

Nicholas Opio a Human Rights defender, noted that the law provides for preventive measures against human rights violation. 

"This human rights enforcement Act, is the most important law Uganda has ever passed since 1995," asserted Opio.

It provides victims of human rights violation with a mechanism to put to account the state and individual public officers for their actions on human rights violation.

It also requires immediate compensation of such victims of human rights violations. 

Opio observed that the law complements the duties of UHRC which he said, cannot handle every single case of human rights violation.

He, however, expressed fears that many judicial officers and law enforcement officers are still unaware of the sections of this Act hence urged the UHRC to fast track the sensitisation process.

Meanwhile, Aidah Nakiganda, who works with the UHRC investigation desk, justified the new Act on a need for a framework to enforce human rights and freedoms.

She also noted that the law enhances access to remedies for victims of human rights violation and a need for a procedure to enforce human rights.

"The human rights commission was receiving and resolving complaints of human rights violation, with no specific or express law on human rights enforcement through the courts of law," Nakiganda added.

Dr Amooti the Ag. Chairperson for UHRC remains optimistic that security officers will tone down on the excessive use of power in order to avoid being culprits of this law especially during this campaign and election period. 

"We hope that duty bearers will increasingly implement it and rights holders will seek to use it so that violators can face the consequences," expressed Dr Amooti.