The one Simon Kirungi has called at least shs 150 million compensation for violating his rights by torture, cruel, inhuman and punishment.
Kirungi’s call came after winning a 17-year alleged murder case of Margret Nsungwa, which happened in June 2008, before Uganda human rights commission Hoima.
He was arrested and jailed together with other two, Fred Kyaligonza, Peregrini Kwikiriza, and his wife Scovia Nsungwa, all residents of Buhimba Sub County.
According to the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) tribunal on Monday, four had been illegally detained at
Hoima police station where they served punishments.
The court was chaired by Ms Mariam Wangadya, the chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC).
During the UHRC tribunal at Hoima offices on Monday, it was stated that torture is outlawed under the Articles 24 and 44(A) of the constitution of the Republic of Uganda, providing platforms for compensation for the complainants.
According to the court, each of the three; Kirungi Simon, Kyaligonza Fred and Kwikiriza Peregrini is to receive adequate compensation of shs 20 million.
The court also considered a sum of two million shillings as adequate compensation for the first two complainants, Kirungi Simon and Kyaligonza Fred for violation of their rights to personal liberty.
Others like; Kwikiriza Peregrini to get adequate compensation of one million five hundred thousand shillings and Scovia Nsungwa four million shillings.
However, Kirungi said that he deserves 150 million, saying he sustained many injuries on the body including his right hand, making him unable to do economic activities to sustain his livelihoods but also paying for education.
“All my hands are injured; I can no longer use them to do heavy work. And so, even the twenty million shillings is very small, ‘I need one hundred fifty million shillings’ since I have a lot of things to do including paying for my child at the university”. he stated
Mariam Wangadya, the chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) warned the security agencies against violating human rights, saying it costs both security units and government in compensation.
She said that torture is both human rights violation and criminal.
Chairperson quoted Articles 24 and 44(A) of the constitution which provides for personal liability to any member of the security agencies who commit the act torture.
“Yes, we are also aware that security units also commit acts of torture that’s why you have seen most of the cases are related to torture. So, errant officers who cause atrocities to cost their institutions and the government because this is taxpayers' money”. She said
However, she noticed other forms of human rights violations like child neglect, domestic violence which happen in homes and schools but remain unreported about.
She urged the general public to always obey the human rights of others to promote peace among communities.
She said that they will spend one week in the Bunyoro region and then to Arua in the West Nile.
Betty Enangu Nangoli, the regional manager at UHRC Hoima said that the despite existing torture cases within communities, it is not on rise unlike land related cases that are very common in the region.
She attributed the rise to land cases to emerging government projects like oil and gas which attract a bigger population to the region.
However, she said that they have been able to resolve some cases through numerous community engagements despite the financial crisis.
However, Hoima police station is liable to pay shs 69,500,000 as compensation in line with human rights violations.