UHRC Tribunal Awards Shs 65 Million to 83-Year-Old Woman Over Son’s Killing by Police

The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) tribunal has awarded Shs 65 million in compensation to an 83-year-old woman in Kwania District after ruling that her son’s killing by security personnel was a violation of his right to life.

The decision, delivered on Monday at the UHRC regional office in Lira City, ordered the government to compensate Katorin Alango for the unlawful killing of her son, Francis Adyebo.

Adyebo was remanded to Erute Prison on October 24, 2007, over an alleged theft case. The following day, then Lira District Police Commander (DPC) Raymond Otim, accompanied by the officer-in-charge at the time, Christopher Ocamgiu, went to the prison and requested Adyebo’s release for questioning in connection with a suspected murder case.

The prison’s gatekeeper handed Adyebo over to the police, but a day later, his family was informed of his mysterious death.

Documents presented to the commission revealed that his body, retrieved from Lira Hospital mortuary, bore bullet wounds on the forehead and chest.

Alango filed a complaint with the commission, arguing that state security agents were responsible for her son’s death.

The tribunal also heard that Otim ensured no postmortem examination was conducted.

However, the commission ruled that even in the absence of a postmortem report, there was overwhelming evidence that Adyebo had been shot and killed.

Three prison officers testified before the tribunal, implicating Otim in Adyebo’s last hours.

Assistant Superintendent of Prisons (ASP) Norah Faith Malinga presented the prison’s admission and gate book, confirming that Adyebo had been admitted to the facility before his removal by Otim on October 25, 2007, for further interrogation.

The tribunal heard that the process of removing Adyebo from prison and handing him over to Otim lasted only eight minutes.

Otim reportedly promised to return him, but that never happened. Days later, police claimed Adyebo had escaped from custody at Lira Police Station—at the same time his body was already in Lira Hospital mortuary, where his brother had picked it up.

Summoned before the tribunal in June 2019, Otim claimed he had no recollection of events related to Adyebo’s death.

The commission concluded that Otim was directly responsible for Adyebo’s death.

“We are convinced that Otim, the then Lira police station DPC, was responsible for the death of Adyebo. He conned and bullied Cpl. Amot Olong into releasing Adyebo to him. The next day, Adyebo was lying dead in Lira Hospital Mortuary, his upper body riddled with bullet wounds,” reads part of the 16-page ruling.

The tribunal further stated: “We reasonably believe that Otim either personally shot and killed Adyebo or gave orders to do so. The killing of the complainant’s son was intentional and unlawful.”

Signed by UHRC Chairperson Mariam Wangadya and three commissioners, the ruling described Adyebo’s final moments as “agonizing.”

“The emotional turmoil he went through upon realizing Otim’s true intentions was unspeakable. He was still a single man and had no children. He never got to know the joy of being a husband and a father and had many decades of life ahead of him before his life was brutally snatched from him by the respondent’s agents,” the commission stated.

The tribunal awarded Alango Shs 60 million in general damages and Shs 5 million in exemplary damages.

The tribunal recommended disciplinary action against the officers involved and called for a human rights-based approach in law enforcement.

“We remind the Uganda Police Force of their obligation to respect human rights and freedoms in their work. Article 221 of the Constitution refers. Impunity will not be tolerated in a civilized country like Uganda,” the ruling stated.

The commission also urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (CID) to investigate Adyebo’s death with a view to prosecuting Otim for murder.

Following the ruling, Alango expressed relief that justice had finally been served.

“This has been a long and painful journey, but we are grateful that the truth has been acknowledged. I had to sell animals to pursue this case for all these years, and finally, justice has been served,” she said.