By Stephen Enatu
The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) tribunal has awarded Phyllis Chepkwemoi, a 42-year-old widow and administrator of the late Gilbert Cherotwo, UGX 60 million in compensation for the violation of her husband’s right to life by 17 Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers.
Chepkwemoi, a mother of six, recounted that on September 4, 2004, at around 2:30 p.m., the soldiers, attached to Seredet detach, arrived at their home and ordered her husband to sit down. Armed with guns and big sticks, they demanded he produce a gun, which he denied possessing. They beat him until 4 p.m. before taking him to the detach. The next day, she found his body at Bukwo Hospital.
The tribunal ruled that the UPDF’s actions were intentional and violated Article 221 of the Constitution of Uganda, which mandates security forces to uphold human rights.
The decision was delivered by UHRC Chairperson Mariam Wangadeya and Commissioners Hon. Crispin Kaheru, Hon. Col. (Rtd) Stephen Basaliza, and Hon. Lamex Omara Apitta.
In a separate case, David Olobo, a 54-year-old resident of Lalle, Kamuda, was awarded UGX 10 million in compensation for general damages following a petition against the Attorney General.
Olobo alleged violations of his right to protection from torture, cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, as enshrined in Article 24 of Uganda’s 1995 Constitution.
On April 19, 2013, two police officers from Kamuda Police Post allegedly assaulted Olobo, striking him with the butt of a gun. The tribunal found that the officers’ use of excessive force caused significant harm to his arm, violance and Prohibition of Torture Act, 2012.
The ruling emphasized that law enforcement must operate within human rights boundaries and that excessive force is unjustifiable.
Additionally, Lawrence Ojur was awarded UGX 4 million in compensation after being tortured by a group that included a police officer and UPDF officer.
His compensation according to Pauline Nansamba Mutumba the acting Director of Complaints and Legal Services at UHRC said was minimal because one of the suspects who was a UPDF soldier was not party in the case.
She said the UHRC tribunal, sitting in Soroti, will hear 18 cases of alleged human rights violations from today until Thursday, February 27. Four cases were slated for decision, three of which were successful against the Attorney General.
Nansamba said that the tribunal is now having 1100 cases pending hearing before the tribunal and 800 under investigation.
In Soroti the region Manager Josephine Akello said they have 164 pending before the tribunal and over 70 under investigation.