KAMPALA: The Uganda Human Rights Commission has protested a demonstration at the United Nations Office on Human Rights that took place this morning, saying it undermines its efforts.
The demonstration that took place at the UnitedNations Office on Human Rights, was staged by activists to present a petition urging the UN towithdraw funding to the Commission for its perceivedinaction against allegations of torture in the country.
“The Uganda Human Rights Commission strongly condemns acts of torture against all Ugandans by anyone, and continues to engage Government ingeneral and Security agencies in particular to ad dressthese allegations whenever they arise,” wrote the UHRC Chairperson, Marima Wangadya.
In a statement, Wangadya stressed that thegeneral public and all relevant stakeholders should know that the UHRC has taken keen interest in the allegations that have been playing on in the media in the recent past.
“UHRC made efforts to ascertain where Mr. Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was being held and charged government to ensure that he was produced in Court to face any possible charges against him, Wangadya adds.
Kakwenza, a novelist was arrested and reportedly tortured in detention following his stinging attacks on Predident Yoweri Museveni and the Commander of the UPDF Land Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba using social media.
“Once he was arraigned before Court, UHRC followed this up with a visit to him at Kitalya Prisonwhere he was remanded. We urged Mr. Rukirabashaija to lodge a complaint with the Commission and evenfollowed this up with his lawyers. However we laterlearnt that Mr. Rukirabashaija had fled the country,” says Ms Wangadya.
She adds that in relation to a one Mr. Masereka, a supporter of one of the political parties in thecountry, UHRC reached out to his lawyers with aview to commencing investigations but were advised by his lawyer that he had preferred to file a CivilSuit in the High Court.
“UHRC will not intervene in a matter which is before a Court of law as provided by article 53(4) of the Constitution. UHRC urges the general public to report to his allegations of torture and other human rights violations for investigation and redress wherenecessary,” she noted.
“We urge the public to allow the relevant institutions to perform their functions of upholding the law, good governance and human rights. It is unfair and unkind of any citizen of Uganda to attempt to weaken National Institutions like the UHRC,” she implored.