The Uganda Human Rights Commission, lead by Margaret Sekaggye, right, has ordered the government to pay Shs 11 million to Celestine Ecweru, a Soroti resident whom UPDF soldiers and police officers tortured and illegally detained in 2001. This infringed his rights to personal liberty and contravened Article 22, 23 and 44 of the Constitution which provide for lawful detention and a personal right to freedom from torture. (04-APR-06)

This article, written by Ephraim Kasozi, first appeared in today´s edition of the independent Ugandan newspaper the Monitor. It has been edited for republication here by HRH / Nivatiti Nandujja. Photo of Sekaggya: HRH / Niels Jacob Harbitz.

The body guards of the late Soroti Resident District commissioner MR Edward Masiga and the district internal security officer arrested Ecweru on April 11 2001, at his villlage in Tubur over allegations that he had a gun. He was tied with ropes and bundled on a pick up truck which took him to Soroti military barracks where he was subjected to inhuman punishment. Further IN another related case the UHRC accused the officers of the Central Police Station and the Violent Crime Crack Unit on Friday for illegal arrest and torture of Mr Musa Ssali, 26, a transport officer at Multi fax International (MFI) on allegations that on May 30, 2003 who were in possession of fire arms.The  VCCU operatives arrested Ssali at Mpererwe stage on Gayaza Road on allegations of obtaining money by false pretence, but he was never taken to court.He was taken to kireka military barracks where he was detained until June 6, 2003.

-The Government must compensate for the losses incurred
While in the cells, Ssali was beaten before being transferred to CPS where he was detained until June 12, 2003. Ssali was released on a police bond after spending six days in police custody. On reaching Kireka barracks he was stripped naked and seriously beaten by military men who kept on demanding for Shs 700,000 for him to be released. Ssali wants the government to compensate him for the losses incurred. The Attorney General did not defend the two security organisations despite the copies of the summons being served to the AG´s office. If the allegations are proved, the acts are a violation of the right to personal liberty contrary to Article 23(3) of the 1995 constitution.