The Uganda Human Rights Commission has pinned police other security organisations on human rights abuses in its 2011 report released on Monday.
While releasing the thirteen chapter document titled “The State of Human Rights in Uganda,” Chairperson Meddie Ssozi Kagwa said the Commission received 1021 complaints in 2011 with 34 percent pinning the police force on human rights violations.
Kagwa explained that 457 of the complaints were registered against the Uganda Police Force regarding violation of freedom from torture, or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
He added that other complaints on the police included the detention of suspects in the police cells beyond the 48 hours with a percentage of 21.5 percent.
Kagwa however sounds hopeful that there is progress on the establishment of a parliamentary committee to specifically address human rights
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Reacting to the Human Rights Report, Lt. General Kale Kayihura, the Inspector General of Police cited an imbalance in the way the police has been pinned without putting into considerations the actions of rioters who pelt the police with stones.
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Roselyn Karugonjo Ssegawa, the UHRC director in charge of monitoring and inspection, says the central part of Uganda registered he highest number of complaints against the police.
She says the central region registered 211 complaints, followed by Gulu with 129, Moroto with 128, Soroti with 119 whil Mbarara registered the lowest number of complaints at 60.
According to Karugonjo, the advent of ‘walk to work’ contributed the highest number of complaints compared to 797 registered in 2010.
The UHRC state of human rights report also highlights human rights concerns regarding the right to health, education, and other concerns arising from fire outbreaks, natural calamities, and inadequate housing.
