{UAH} WHEN IS THE NEXT HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF INQUIRY IN UGANDA?
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WHEN IS THE NEXT HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF INQUIRY IN UGANDA?
Since attaining its independence in 1962, Uganda has had a turbulent history characterised by gross violation of human rights. All regimes (past and present) have thrived on violence and rights violations in order to not only gain political power but to retain their hold on power. The bloody events of 1966 that led to the Kabaka (king of Buganda) who was also the first President of Uganda escaped the bloody confrontation into exile. The 1971 military take over by Iddi Amin and the 1972 public executions following the aborted invasion by Ugandan exiles from Tanzania. The arbitrary arrests, kidnap, murders, torture,DETENTION
without trial and forced disappearances during the Iddi Amin regime. The violence during the 1979 liberation war to oust Iddi Amin and in particular the systematic killings of Muslims in Western Uganda. The violence and gruesome human rights violations during the 1981 - 86 guerrilla war by Museveni. The worst human rights violations during the northern Uganda counter insurgency operations of the late 1980s, 90s and onwards including the violent military-led disarmament operation in Karamoja region. The constant harassment, beatings, arbitrary arrests, kidnap, detention, torture and killing ofMuseveni's political opponents for the last 29 years. The first UPC government lasted from 1962 - 1971, the Iddi Amin government lasted from 1971 - 1979, the UNLF led government lasted only 1979 - 1980, the Military Commission led government lasted a few months during 1980, the 2nd UPC led government lasted 1981 - 1985, the Tito Okello led military Junta lasted July 1985 - Jan 1986, the Museveni led military dictatorship has been in power since January 1986 to this day (29 years). Each of the above governments have had their share of human rights violation and some instances it would look as if they were competing for the highest score in terms of rights violations.
In June 1974, Iddi Amin instituted a Commission of Inquiry into the rampant kidnap and forced disappearances of prominent Ugandans at the time. The Commission headed by a Pakistan Judge was mandated to inquire into the disappearances between Jan 25th 1971 - June 1974. The Commission heard 308 cases/complaints and interviewed 545 witnesses in a period of one year. The Commission's report found the exiled militant groups who ran clandestine hit squads inside Uganda and the regime's intelligence services responsible for the killings, kidnap and forced disappearances. It made specific recommendations concerning reforming the Police and intelligence services. The situation did not improve at all since the violence was externally instigated (exiled militants including Yoweri Museveni).
When Museveni took over power in 1986 he instituted a Commission of Inquiry into violation of all forms human rights in Uganda since Independence on 9th October 1962 to 25th January 1986 (a day before he tooke over power). The commission specifically focused on detentions and killings. The commission headed by Justice Oder took eight years to complete its work in 1994 when a 720 page report was produced. The inquiries had been deliberately delayed so as to serve the political purpose for which it had been set up. The inquiry was meant to discredit the past regimes while at the same time serving as a political strategy to legitimize Museveni's military regime. It is only when the commission had completed its work that some of his top aides like Generals tafire and Pecos Kuteesa came out openly to reveal how some of the atrocities earlier attributed to government forces (2nd Obote government) were actually carried out by Museveni's NRA fighters.
The next independent commission of inquiry will reveal gruesome human rights violations ever witnessed in Uganda. It will take the form of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission once Museveni has left power. Unfortunately, the venues and modus operandi remain the same i.e Makindye Military barracks, Kireka barracks, Naguru, Nakasero intelligence headquarters etc and kidnap, beatings, electric shock, detention without trial, extortion etc respectively. However, Museveni has excelled by going an extra mile in introducing torture and detention in Safe Houses (secret illegal torture facilities), detaining in pits, containers, train wagons and water 'boarding', 'sauna', and removal of 'quarter pin', armed raids on courts of law so as to reverse court decisions, etc. For that matter, he is now seeking another five year term so that he prepares his son to take over the presidency such that by the time such an independent Commission of Inquiry will take place to find him culpable, he will be in his last days on earth - the Agusto Pinochet style.
INFORMATION IS POWER
without trial and forced disappearances during the Iddi Amin regime. The violence during the 1979 liberation war to oust Iddi Amin and in particular the systematic killings of Muslims in Western Uganda. The violence and gruesome human rights violations during the 1981 - 86 guerrilla war by Museveni. The worst human rights violations during the northern Uganda counter insurgency operations of the late 1980s, 90s and onwards including the violent military-led disarmament operation in Karamoja region. The constant harassment, beatings, arbitrary arrests, kidnap, detention, torture and killing ofMuseveni's political opponents for the last 29 years. The first UPC government lasted from 1962 - 1971, the Iddi Amin government lasted from 1971 - 1979, the UNLF led government lasted only 1979 - 1980, the Military Commission led government lasted a few months during 1980, the 2nd UPC led government lasted 1981 - 1985, the Tito Okello led military Junta lasted July 1985 - Jan 1986, the Museveni led military dictatorship has been in power since January 1986 to this day (29 years). Each of the above governments have had their share of human rights violation and some instances it would look as if they were competing for the highest score in terms of rights violations.In June 1974, Iddi Amin instituted a Commission of Inquiry into the rampant kidnap and forced disappearances of prominent Ugandans at the time. The Commission headed by a Pakistan Judge was mandated to inquire into the disappearances between Jan 25th 1971 - June 1974. The Commission heard 308 cases/complaints and interviewed 545 witnesses in a period of one year. The Commission's report found the exiled militant groups who ran clandestine hit squads inside Uganda and the regime's intelligence services responsible for the killings, kidnap and forced disappearances. It made specific recommendations concerning reforming the Police and intelligence services. The situation did not improve at all since the violence was externally instigated (exiled militants including Yoweri Museveni).
When Museveni took over power in 1986 he instituted a Commission of Inquiry into violation of all forms human rights in Uganda since Independence on 9th October 1962 to 25th January 1986 (a day before he tooke over power). The commission specifically focused on detentions and killings. The commission headed by Justice Oder took eight years to complete its work in 1994 when a 720 page report was produced. The inquiries had been deliberately delayed so as to serve the political purpose for which it had been set up. The inquiry was meant to discredit the past regimes while at the same time serving as a political strategy to legitimize Museveni's military regime. It is only when the commission had completed its work that some of his top aides like Generals tafire and Pecos Kuteesa came out openly to reveal how some of the atrocities earlier attributed to government forces (2nd Obote government) were actually carried out by Museveni's NRA fighters.
The next independent commission of inquiry will reveal gruesome human rights violations ever witnessed in Uganda. It will take the form of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission once Museveni has left power. Unfortunately, the venues and modus operandi remain the same i.e Makindye Military barracks, Kireka barracks, Naguru, Nakasero intelligence headquarters etc and kidnap, beatings, electric shock, detention without trial, extortion etc respectively. However, Museveni has excelled by going an extra mile in introducing torture and detention in Safe Houses (secret illegal torture facilities), detaining in pits, containers, train wagons and water 'boarding', 'sauna', and removal of 'quarter pin', armed raids on courts of law so as to reverse court decisions, etc. For that matter, he is now seeking another five year term so that he prepares his son to take over the presidency such that by the time such an independent Commission of Inquiry will take place to find him culpable, he will be in his last days on earth - the Agusto Pinochet style.
INFORMATION IS POWER
Posted by Uganda - A Change of Guards! a
Viele GruBe
Robukui
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