After two years of inactivity, the Uganda human rights tribunal is finally back to work.
The tribunal will hear a total of 123 cases in a space of one month during sessions that started on the 17th of January and will be concluded on 24th February.
The tribunal, has not been sitting for two years because it was not fully constituted following the death of of its then Chairperson Med Ssozi Kaggwa in November 2019
According to Uganda Human Rights Commission Director Complaints, Investigation and Legal Services Ida Nakiganda, the month-long hearings will be held at Uganda Human rights regional offices in Fort Portal and Arua.
“The Hearings at Arua Regional Office are being conducted by Commissioner Hon. Meddie B Mulumba while those at Fort Portal Regional Office are being conducted by Hon. Shifra Lukwago,” said Nakiganda.
Out of the 123 cases, 67 complaints were already heard and the Commissioners will be delivering decisions.
Other Commissioners that will be conducting the rest of the sessions at Regional Offices include former Ethics and Integrity minister Rev. Fr. Simon Lokodo and Hon. Jacklet Atuhaire Rwabukurukuru.
The tribunal was fully reconstituted after President Yoweri Museveni appointed Ms.Mariam Wangadya as the chairperson of Uganda Human Rights Commission and four other Commissioners in August last year.
The tribunal is the enforcement mechanism of the Commission with a mandate to investigate complaints of human rights violations, hear them and order for compensation or any other legal remedy or redress where it is satisfied that the victim’s rights were indeed violated.
The tribunal has its powers enshrined Under Article 53 (1) and (2) of the constitution of Uganda.
