UHRC launches probe into recent riots

2021 ELECTIONS | VIOLENCE |

The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has launched investigations into the riots that rocked parts of the country last week.

The riots erupted when the youth started protesting the arrest of the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, on his campaign trail in Luuka district.

Accused of undermining the electoral guidelines issued by the Electoral Commission (EC) and the health ministry to tame the spread of COVID-19, Kyagulanyi was released by Iganga Chief Magistrates Court on Friday, after spending two days in a Police detention facility at Nalufenya in Jinja district.

In a statement issued yesterday, UHRC noted that some incidents that occurred during the ensuing chaos automatically translated into the violation of human rights.

The Commission acting chairperson Dr Katebalirwe Amooti Wa Irumba told journalists at the offices in Kampala that people's livelihoods were affected when private and public properties, such as offices, roads and vehicles, were vandalised or destroyed.

"The commission condemns in the strongest terms possible the perpetrators of the violence that was experienced, irrespective of which side they belonged, whether they were errant law operatives or the violent rioters," Katebalirwe said.

Describing the riots as senseless acts, Katebalirwe said the violent protests that inflicted injuries, claimed lives and caused loss of property in several areas of the country, were unacceptable.

"The commission, therefore, commiserates with all those who lost their loved ones or faced other forms of violations of their rights, including loss of valuable property," he said.

Katebalirwe said there is so far no formal complaint registered with the commission regarding violation of human rights.

He, however, revealed that they have dispatched a team to visit Mulago and other health facilities to interview victims of the violence.

Katebalirwe said the team was also visiting different Police stations to check on the detained.

"All law enforcement and justice agencies should ensure that all the suspects who were apprehended during the recent riots and those who are arrested during the entire electoral campaign period are accorded the full rights and freedoms as provided for by the Constitution," Katebalirwe said.

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga  Sunday said about 333 riot suspects were due to be arraigned in different courts across the country.

The UHRC urged candidates at presidential, parliamentary and local council levels to ensure that they behave and act in an exemplary manner and carry out their campaigns based on the principles of maintaining peace, tranquillity, stability, national development, independence, as well as prevention of the spread of the coronavirus during and after the general election.

The rights body also tasked leaders of the various communities such as traditional institutions, faith-based institutions, professional bodies, opinion groups and civil society organisations with endeavouring to guide their followers and political actors to discourage behaviour and acts of lawlessness, sectarianism, discrimination, hatred and violence.

On the remarks by the security minister, Elly Tumwine, that Police have a right to shoot protesters dead if they "reach a certain level of violence, the commission warned public officials against rhetoric which incite violence.