Police comes under attack over abuses
Police chief Kale Kayihura (L) stresses a point at the launch of the human rights and freedoms yearly report in Kampala yesterday. The Force has come under more criticism from human rights defenders, the law society and opposition political activists. PHOTO BY STEPHEN WANDERA
What you need to know:
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga informs UHRC that the newly amended House rules of procedure created a committee on human rights.
KAMPALA
Hours after Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga received the 14th yearly report on human rights and freedoms in the country yesterday, the Police Force came under more criticism from human rights defenders, the law society and opposition political activists.
The morning ceremony at which Chairman Med Kaggwa handed over the report of the Uganda Human Rights Commission to Ms Kadaga, and the subsequent official launching ceremony at Imperial Royale Hotel, were characterised by admonitions of a Force whose leader Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura struggled to defend.
What to do
“Police should be trained on human rights and how to handle demonstrations and riots,” Mr Kagwa said. Mr Kagwa indicated that compensation ordered by UHRC for victims of human rights abuse has shot to Shs4 billion since inception of the commission in 1995. He also said “the commission noted that journalists faced several challenges as they exercised their right to seek, receive and impart information.”
Article 52(2) requires the commission to publish periodic reports and submit annual reports to Parliament on the state of human rights and freedoms in the country.
