Eight victims of police brutality have taken legal action against 10 police officers and government for violation of human rights consisting of illegal arrests, detentions and others.
They are part of over 192 human rights defenders including youth, students, civil society groups, oil affected communities, and others involved in campaigns with efforts to promote human and environmental rights who have continued to suffer various violations.
The activists have opposed activities such as the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), the Tilenga oil project, the Hoima refinery oil project, degradation of Bugoma forest, Lakes Albert and Victoria, River Nile and Murchison Falls National Park.
Bob Barigye, one of the activists, told a press briefing today that the police has made it criminal to be an activist.
They dehumanize us. They beat us. They step on us. What do they want us to do,” an emotional Barigye said.
Angel Getrude Noella, an actvisit shed tears as she narrated her ordeal of being arrested.
They did not mind whether I was a lady. They kicked me. How do you step on a lady,” she said.
The arrests
On the 5th of October 2022, police arrested and illegally detained over nine university students and youth for 6 days. The arrests happened during a peaceful march to the European Union offices in Kampala.
On the 9th of December 2022, police arrested and detained three EACOP activists for peacefully protesting against the human rights violations in Uganda.
On the 24th of January 2023, police illegally arrested and detained human rights activists protesting against the impunity of police for more than 48 hours.
On the 15th of September, 2023, police arrested and detained four human rights defenders as they peacefully marched to Parliament to deliver a petition requesting MPs to use their legislative and oversight powers to end fossil fuel investments in Uganda.
On the 20th of November 2023, police arrested and illegally detained 6 (six) human rights activists who were peacefully protesting against the Chinese government’s plans to fund oil activities in Uganda for 3 days at Jinja Road police station.
On the 24th of November 2023, police illegally arrested and detained 7(seven) youth human rights activists peacefully petitioning the Ugandan Parliament to intervene and to stop police brutality against human and environmental defenders for over 20 days.
On the 15th of December, 2023, 15 (fifteen) students were illegally arrested and detained for protesting against the police’s impunity in stopping the activities of civil society
On 26th of June 2024, police illegally arrested and detained 30 human rights activists who were peacefully protesting at the Chinese Embassy in Uganda demanding that the Chinese government should not fund activities that worsen climate change in Uganda.
The activists filed three separate cases at the High Court against: Kiryowa Kiwanuka-Attorney General and 10 police officers.
The officers are: ASP Nsenge Alex, SGT. Okoth James, ASP Okoyo Martin, Twinamatsiko Onesmus, PC No. 74183 Wabwire James, PC Wandera Jacob Bwire , ASP Nahamya David, PC Okello (Head of Field Force Unit – FFU at Jinja Road Police Station), ASP Patrick Opiyo and OC Alex Micwemirungi all in their private capacity.
These human rights defenders are seeking a court declaration that the actions of the government and police amounted to torture, brutality, inhuman and degrading treatment contrary to Articles 24 and 44 of the 1995 Constitution.
They also want the court to issue a permanent injunction to halt all illegal actions of the police and the government to allow human rights defenders to do their work freely.
They want an order that the human rights defenders be entitled to compensation.
Since the discovery of oil in 2006, many human rights defenders in Uganda have continued to suffer various human rights violations.
Between 2021 and 2024 alone, over 192 human rights defenders including civil society staff, students, youth, affected communities, and others have suffered gross human rights violations ranging from harassment, intimidation, arrests, detentions, unexplained office vandalism, office closure by the government through NGO Bureau directives and others.
