The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has awarded Shs74 million in compensation to victims of human rights violations in the Teso Sub-region.
The tribunal hearings chaired by Commission Chairperson Hon. Mariam Wangadya and three other members; Crispin Kaheru, Col. RTD. Steven Basaliza and Lamex Omara Apitta addressed several cases of abuse and handed down decisions on claims previously heard.
Among the most notable rulings was that of Phylis Chepkwemoi, a 42-year-old widow from Kapsiywo in Bukwo district who sought justice for the killing of her husband, Gilbert Cherotwo. Chepkwemoi accused members of the Anti-Stock Unit police and UPDF soldiers attached to Seredet detach of torturing and killing her husband.
The Commission heard that on November 4, 2004, at approximately 2:30 pm, 17 soldiers armed with sticks and guns found Cherotwo working in his garden and demanded that he hand over a gun. When he denied having one, they beat him relentlessly until 4:00 pm and later took him to their detach. The next day, his body was discovered at Bukwo Hospital mortuary.
“We are satisfied with the complainant’s evidence that UPDF soldiers of Seredet detach tortured and killed Cherotwo. From the testimony of George Chepnoyen, Cherotwo had defaulted on a debt. His creditor maliciously and falsely reported to the army that he illegally possessed a gun, leading to the ordeal that took his life. We have no reason to doubt Chepkwemoi’s evidence; more so, there was no other evidence to counter it—the respondent having failed to call any witnesses or file submissions in rebuttal thereof,” stated Hon. Crispin Kaheru while delivering the decision on behalf of the panel.
The Commission condemned the extrajudicial killing, describing Cherotwo’s final hours as “unspeakable” and labeling the 17 soldiers involved as “basically a lynch mob.”
“The order for him to produce a gun he knew absolutely nothing about was horrifying and a nightmare to him. The soldiers ought to have listened to Chepnoyen, the area LC1 Chairman, who told them that he was sure Cherotwo had no gun in his possession. They chased him away and instead chose to act on a false and malicious report given to them by Cherotwo’s angry creditor. This is inexcusable,” the Commission ruled. The tribunal awarded Chepkwemoi and her family Shs60 million as compensation for the violation of Cherotwo’s right to life.
In a separate case, Hon. Apitta delivered the ruling awarding Shs10 million to 54-year-old David Olobo of Kamuda Sub-county, Soroti district. Olobo was found to have been subjected to torture, cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment by police officers. The Commission learned that on April 19, 2013, two policemen attempted to arrest Olobo at 5:00 am. He refused to comply, insisting he would only submit in the presence of his area chairperson.
“The complainant in our view proved that two policemen of Kamuda Police Post inflicted on him severe pain and suffering by hitting his left arm with a gun butt, thereby causing a fracture. Hitting his arm with a gun butt and breaking it was totally unjustified. Such acts of impunity cannot be tolerated,” the Tribunal ruled.
Additionally, Shs4 million was awarded to Ojur Lawrence, a 38-year-old peasant from Osongei in Katakwi district. He was assaulted by a UPDF soldier identified as Opus, who stepped on his head, alongside two police constables from Apapai Police Post. Lawrence had been accused of defiling Opus’ niece, Auma Agnes. However, the Tribunal found that instead of lodging his complaint against Opus, Ojur lodged it against Uganda Police whose contribution to his torture was minimal.
The Uganda Human Rights Commission reaffirmed its commitment to justice and accountability, stating that such acts of brutality and impunity must be condemned and addressed to ensure human rights are upheld throughout the country.
The Tribunal set out to hear 18 complaints of human rights violation from Monday February 24th, 2025 to Thursday February 27th, 2025. The UHRC has a mandate under article 52 and 53 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda to receive complaints of human rights violation, investigate, determine them and award damages or offer other remedies where it is satisfied that a violation indeed occurred.
