The Uganda Human Rights Commission has raised concern over delayed justice, prolonged detention of suspects and persistent human rights violations in its 28th Annual Report on the State of Human Rights and Freedoms in Uganda.
The report, which was officially launched in Kampala, revealed that the Commission registered 324 human rights violation complaints in 2025, with the Gulu Regional Office recording the highest number of cases at 18 percent, followed by Mbarara at 16.4 percent.
Speaking on behalf of UHRC Chairperson Mariam Wangadya, Commissioner Lamex Omara Apita said the report highlights both progress and ongoing challenges in the protection of human rights across the country.
“This 28th Report highlights key areas of progress registered during the reporting period while drawing attention to persistent and emerging human rights concerns requiring continued attention and action,” Omara said.
According to the findings, men accounted for the majority of complainants at 63 percent, while women represented 37 percent. Most of the complaints involved allegations of torture and deprivation of property, particularly among persons in conflict with the law.
The report further identified the Uganda Police Force as the institution with the highest number of complaints, with 181 cases registered against the force. Another 181 complaints involved private individuals, while 37 cases were lodged against the Uganda People's Defence Forces.
UHRC also cited delayed compensation to victims, inadequate resources for investigations, case backlogs and reliance on a manual complaint management system as key obstacles affecting effective justice delivery.
On observance of the constitutional 48-hour rule, the Commission said inspections conducted in 2025 established that many suspects were being held for between two and nine days before appearing in court.
The report further highlighted concerns in districts such as Ntoroko, Bundibugyo, Hoima and Lira, where police officers were reportedly reluctant to grant police bond due to fears of mob justice.
Responding to the report, Commissioner of Police Simon Peter Okoshi, the Acting Deputy Director of Operations in the Uganda Police Force, acknowledged the challenges surrounding enforcement of the 48-hour constitutional requirement.
“Sometimes we want to observe it, but there are circumstances where it may be exceeded slightly and not intentionally,” Okoshi said.
He explained that some criminal investigations require more time, especially in serious offences such as murder, aggravated robbery and defilement.
“There is a famous case involving a man called Okello who allegedly went to a kindergarten and killed four innocent children. Under a strict interpretation of the 48-hour rule, such a suspect could have returned to the streets while investigations were still ongoing,” he added.
Okoshi maintained that delays in producing suspects before court are mainly caused by operational challenges rather than deliberate disregard of constitutional provisions.
