By Flavia Ajok
Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has ordered the Government of Uganda to compensate torture victims in the Albertine region a sum of 69.5Million shillings.
This was during a weeklong Appeals Tribunal that will handle 11 cases from the region that has kicked off at the Uganda Human Right Commission office in Hoima city chaired by Mariam Wangadya the UHRC chairperson.
Wangadya ordered the Office of the Attorney General to compensate four residents of Ruhunga, Buhimba in Kikuube district, Simon Kirungi, Fred Kyaligonza, Peregrini Kwikiriza, with 22 million shillings each and Scovia Nsungwa be paid 4M as compensation for torture, cruelity and degrading and violation of person liberty and dignity adding that all sums of money will carry interest at 10%per annum from to date until full payment.
Wangadya explained that the four people were wrongly accused of brutally murdering Margaret Nsungwa a sister to the then Buhaguzi Member of Parliament Hon. Tom Kyahurwenda in 2008 and spent time in Luzira prison after being tortured by police of Hoima.
Simon Kirungi, one of the victims explained how terribly they were tortured together with his fellows while in the hands of the then Hoima police.
However, Simon Kirungi has expressed dissatisfaction with the amount, stating that 22 million is too little considering the trauma and permanent disability he suffered due to the torture.
Kirungi, a farmer, claims he can no longer work and demands 150 million in compensation.
Another victim, Alozio Waswa from Kisiita village in Kakumiro district, shared a traumatic explanation of being tortured by a prison officer, only identified as Ferdinand, at Kyabisenge prison.
Waswa says he suffered severe injuries, including a broken leg that had to be amputated and a broken arm.
Wangadya says these cases highlight the financial implications of police and prison officers’ unprofessional conduct and the government is forced to compensate victims of torture using tax payers’ money, which could be avoided if law enforcement agencies adhered to human rights standards.
She says victims are supposed to be handled as provided by law because the constitution and law are very clear on prohibition of torture since torture does not serve any purpose.
Wangadya says any statement obtained through torture of a suspect cannot stand in court because it has no evidential value.
