By Alice Lubwama
The Uganda human rights commission is worried about the continued violation of human rights in inform of torture despite legislative frameworks in place to deter the vice.
In a joint press conference by the Uganda human rights commission and the coalition against torture, ahead of international day in support of victims of torture due on 26th of this month, the chairperson of Uganda human rights commission Meddle Kagwa said that torture has always been ranked as the highest violated right of the complaints registered by the commission since the year 2015 to 2018.
The commission has however noted the outstanding challenges that hinder full enjoyment of a right to freedom against torture as being luck of will by various institutions to implement the prevention and prohibition of the torture act and delays by government to compensate the torture survivors.
The outstanding arrears for torture survivors are now over 5 billion shillings, according to Kagwa.
Kagwa said that the amount accumulated over the years and the president has been writing to the ministry of finance telling them to clear the amount but in vain.
"We have been always saying that this money should be paid because you are dealing with people who have suffered and need treatment, some of them have actually pass on before ever getting this money." Kagwa added
Kagwa however says that he is now happy since government has directed each of its institution or department to take responsibility of its violations and compensate the victims saying he hopes that this will deter the violations since the institutions will prevail over their officers .
The Uganda human rights commission and the coalition against torture have recommended that the Uganda police investigate and document all torture cases for effective implementation of the anti torture law, they also call for errant officers in security organizations accused to be perpetrators to be charged in main stream courts of law as a deterrent measure.
They also ask the ministry of finance to fast truck the payment of torture awards and the ministry of health to main stream rehabilitation of torture survivors in all government regional facilities saying rehabilitation is a human right.