VIDEO: Rights defenders drag government to court over civilian beatings

Rights defenders have resorted to the constitutional court to challenge human rights abuse by state security agencies. The defenders are opposed to the torture of innocent citizens and trumped up charges of treason, terrorism against political rivals.

The executive director foundation for human rights initiative Livingston Ssewanyana, says they have collected all necessary evidence to back their case.

According to Ssewanyana, they are irked by the recurrent beating up of civilians by security agencies. Their focus is on the recent scenes at Kyadondo, where elite Special Forces Command (SFC) soldiers clobbered residents who had gathered to welcome the area member of parliament, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine.

“If this is the practice they are going to continue with, we are going to challenge it in the constitutional court whether acts of using sticks are actually allowed by the law. But we also be mindful that actions like this should be prosecuted in the international criminal court,” Ssewanyana said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBR8IJGpCto

Rights defenders argue that it is against article 24 and 44 of the constitution that prohibits the subjection of a person to any form of torture and cruelty.

“Acts of torture wherever they are committed are absolutely prohibited and have serious consequences, even children are not allowed to be caned with sticks,” Ssewanyana said.

The activists also condemn security personnel who impersonate name-tags while others do not display at all to disguise their identity.

While addressing the media last week, security minister Gen Elly Tumwine said that they are using sticks to disperse protestors because they are less lethal compared to guns and bullets.

“What do you want the security personnel to use to disperse people? Guns or sticks?” he posed.

Ssewanyana claims they have so far gathered enough evidence to present before the constitutional court on September 28, 2018.