UPDF officers urged to respect people's rights

The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces’ (UPDF) Mountain Division Commander, Brig Gen Moses Kwikiriza, has called on members of the UPDF to consider the observance of human rights during military operations.

“Our key task as the UPDF is the provision of a right to security. We must however ensure strict observance of all other rights as we execute our tasks. In this way, we will be positively adding the right to security to the overall human rights in the country,” said Kwikiriza.

Kwikiriza made the remarks while officiating at the hand over ceremony between the outgoing 222 Mountain Brigade Commander, Col Keith Katungi, and the incoming Brigade Commander, Lt Col Christopher Tumwine, at the Brigade Headquarters at Hima in Kasese district.

He added the UPDF works with, for and in the interest of human beings (the people) and so individual inhuman actions that infringe on peoples’ human rights undermine the reasons for the UPDF’s existence.

Kwikiriza observed that there are many ways people unknowingly or intentionally infringe on other peoples’ rights taking example of the current challenge at hand.

He noted that individual’s failure to observe the COVID-19 guidelines in itself is an act that infringes on other peoples’ right to health as well as their own personal health rights.

“The state has the responsibility for your life. You can be charged for trying to unlawfully take it away or for endangering that of others,” he cautioned.

He called for the wearing of masks in public places, social distancing, staying home where necessary and regular washing of hands or sanitising.

Col Keith Katungi recently took over as the Commander of the Military Police based in Makindye.

Katungi tipped the incoming brigade commander that his success will depend on the level of team work in the formation and his cooperation with the civilian community.