By Spy Uganda
Several people who were tortured by policemen in Kumi district a few years back are not satisfied with a decision made by the Uganda Human Rights Commission that government should compensate them with a paltry Shs19m.
The Uganda Human Rights Commission on Wednesday ordered government to pay Shs19m in compensation to four people tortured by police officers.
The victims are Abraham Emuwat, Lucy Apiya, Okwao Justine and Joseph Okanya all residents of Ogosoi village Mukongoro Sub County Kumi district.
It’s alleged that on the 18th August 2007, the victims were brutalised by Naphtali and a one Obilil, both police officers attached to Mukongoro police station in Kumi district at the time, for allegedly stealing ground nuts.
However, Emuwat on Tuesday told the Human Rights Tribunal sitting at the UHRC offices in Soroti town that upon their arrest, police officers severely kicked them and clobbered them using gun butts sticks.While passing his ruling, Dr Katembabalirwe Amooti Wa Irumba, of UHRC stated that there was overwhelming evidence that the victim’ rights were violated through torture and unalwful arrest.
As a result, Irumba ruled that each of the men will be compensated Shs5m and the women each Shs4m for violation of their rights.
He said that government is free to appeal the ruling in the High Court if it is not satisfied with the UHRC ruling.
However, the victims contend that this is very little money compared to what they suffered, the losses they incurred during the time they were in jail and the medical bills they incurred while treating the wounds sustained during the torture.
