MPs task DPC to explain suspects’ death

Human rights. The Parliamentary Human Rights Committee members speak to some of the suspects at Adjumani Central Police Station. Photo by Felix Warom Okello

What you need to know:

  • Mr Elatu said Chandiga was a violent suspect.
  • The Uganda Human Rights Commission regional officer, Ms Juliet Logose, said although there is improvement in torture and illegal detention cases, some policemen still manhandle suspects.

WEST NILE. The Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights on Wednesday tasked the Adjumani DPC Ojokuna Elatu to explain the death of two suspects.
Patrick Vundru, a resident of Ofua Sub-county, died on September 9 after he was shot dead as the police tried to disperse a mob from lynching a suspected sorcerer while Richard Chandiga committed suicide from Pagirinya Settlement Police Post.
Chandiga was arrested for allegedly beating up a South Sudanese refugee at a drinking joint.
While carrying out an assessment on the state of detention and various human rights abuses in the region, the committee established that two suspects died under unclear circumstances from the police cells.

The Committee chairperson, Ms Jovan Kamateka, said the DPC and a policeman who was on guard at a time one suspect committed suicide in the cells had to explain why they mishandle suspects, which might have propelled the suspect to end his life.
“We cannot continue to have suspects die in cells under unclear circumstances. The fact that suspects could have committed crimes; they should be handled humanely because everyone is a potential candidate to be jailed. So the DPC should explain why these suspects died in police cells,” she said.

Mr Elatu said Chandiga was a violent suspect.
“Police tied him with a rope which he later used to commit suicide. But this was an unfortunate incident for us,” he said.
The Uganda Human Rights Commission regional officer, Ms Juliet Logose, said although there is improvement in torture and illegal detention cases, some policemen still manhandle suspects.
“Police are supposed to protect people and we expect them [police] to respect the law by handling suspects with a human heart. But we shall still investigate the circumstances under which the two suspects died and those responsible should face the law,” she said.