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Human rights body condemns police on arrest of journalists
Uganda Human Rights Commission chairperson Med S K. Kaggwa
What you need to know:
- Mr Assan Kasingye the police spokesperson said there is an anti-torture law in place that requires any officer who abuses fundamental human rights of anybody to be held liable for his or her actions.
Kampala. Uganda Human Rights Commission has condemned the recent use of unnecessary force by Uganda police against Journalists as they celebrated Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2017.
The condemnation was echoed by the commission’s chairperson Med S K. Kaggwa while addressing journalists at their office headquarters in Kampala.
“Uganda Human Rights Commission and indeed the rest of the world were appalled to see television footages of the scuffle between some sections of the media and the police on Wednesday May 3, 2017, which ironically was World Press Freedom Day. We condemn the excessive use of force by some elements in the police against the journalists which was witnessed that day,” he said.
According to him, the Commission has repeatedly urged the Police to always be mindful of Article 20 and Article 221, which require that all organs and agencies of government including security organizations and all persons must observe, uphold and respect human rights and freedoms in the performance of their functions.
He added that, the commission also noted that the use of un necessary force by the Police violates Article 24 of the Constitution which guarantees the respect of human dignity and protection from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment as well as Article 44 of the Constitution which totally prohibits the violation of the right to freedom from torture and ill treatment, which is a non-derogable right.
The chairperson of UHRC reiterated their earlier call to the Uganda Police Force to always exercise restraint and apply only reasonable and necessary force, in the course of carrying out its work.
“We also demand that the errant officers are punished,”he added.
Mr Kaggwa said the Commission calls on the public to remain calm and cooperate with the law enforcement agencies in curbing the killings and other crime; and the government particularly the Police to step up efforts to fulfill its obligation to protect the lives and property of all Ugandans. The Commission further calls on government to consider the human rights concerns rose herein with regard to streamlining and regulating the operations of crime preventers as well as the SIM Card verification exercise, in order to forestall human rights violations.
The Commission, on its part will continue to monitor the respect and observance of human rights by all duty bearers and to urge all the citizens to fulfill their duties as provided for in the Constitution he concluded.
Mr Assan Kasingye the police spokesperson said there is an anti-torture law in place that requires any officer who abuses fundamental human rights of anybody to be held liable for his or her actions.
“We are going to sensitize our officers about human rights as there is even a unit in the force, we also have police standard unit which strives to make police behave professional,” he said.
