The Uganda Human Rights Commission has summoned the Inspector General of Police, John Martins Okoth Ochola to explain the violent crackdown on peaceful gatherings and demonstrations
The Commission Chairperson, Mariam Wangadya issued the summons shortly after a statement in which she condemned the recurrent acts of violent disruption on peaceful protestors by police.
“Whereas your attendance is required in response to allegations of violently stopping lawful gatherings and peaceful demonstrations Contrary to article 29 (a), (d), and (e) and article 221 of the constitution. YOU ARE by this SUMMONS required to appear before this Commission on the 4th day of May at 10:00 O’clock in the fore/afternoon to respond to the said allegations at the Commission Central Regional Office at Plot 55 Katalima Road, Naguru” reads a copy of the summons which has been duly received by the office of the IGP.
Article 221 of the Ugandan Constitution requires the defence forces, the police force, the prisons service, all intelligence services and the National Security Council ‘to observe and respect human rights and freedoms in the performance of their function.
Wangadya had earlier urged the Uganda Police to put an end to illegal and unconstitutional acts witnessed while executing public order management and the Public Management Act. She expressed concern that the police continue to violently disrupt lawful gatherings and peaceful demonstrations convened by elected leaders and other Ugandans.
She singled out an incident in Mityana where the police disrupted a Women’s Day celebration organized by District Woman Member of Parliament, Joyce Baagala Ntwatwa. Baagala and her supporters were sprayed with tear gas and colored water. The Police claimed that she and the supports were illegally assembled. Several people were injured, and others were arrested.
The Police have over the years been accused of selectively enforcing the law on Public Order Management.
The Uganda Human Rights boss reminded the Uganda Police of the Constitutional right to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, demonstrate peacefully, as well as freedom of association as enshrined in Article 29(a).
Wangadya said that following the events in Mityana, the Commission sought an explanation from the Police Force in a letter dated 2nd April 2023, but it has not received any response.
“Unfortunately, we have not received any response from the Police to our communication, an act we consider contemptuous. Instead, the Commission has taken note of other violent actions by the police including assaulting the Woman Member of Parliament for Buvuma, Hon Suzan Mugabi on 21st April 2023 together with the District Speaker Gad Daniel Onyango” reads the statement in part.
A source at the Commission says that failure by the Police to respond to the letters has prompted the Chairperson to summon Okoth Ohola to personally appear.
But also, on Thursday, female MPs from the opposition petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among asking her to join them in protest against police harassment and blocking of their events. They had begun a peaceful demonstration from parliament to the Internal Affairs Ministry when they were blocked at the gate of Parliament.
A number of them were arrested and whisked to the Central Police Station where they spent hours under detention until when the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among pressed for their release.