Betty Atwebembeire, a resident of Kinyansano, Kayembe Cell in Rukungiri District, has been awarded Shs55m as compensation by the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Tribunal for the death of her husband through police negligence.
The Shs55m was awarded as general damages for the violation of Denis Mugabirwe Mbagira’s right to life. The compensation carries a 10 percent annual interest accumulating from the date of the ruling until the payment is made in full.
The complaint that was filed against the Attorney General as the respondent by Justus Kashisha, 87, as the father of the deceased and resident of Karangako, Nyamabare, Kabunga in Rukungiri District.
Kashisha testifying in 2016 before retired Justice Gideon Tinyinondi accused police officers of Rukungiri Central Police Station of arresting, detaining and beating his son severely which resulted into his death.
Atwebembeire later took over the case as the administrator and the widow to the late Denis Mugabirwe Mbangira with whom she had two children at the time of his death in 2010.
The tribunal, chaired by Mariam Wangadya, and comprising Jacklet Atuhaire Rwabukurukuru, Shifrah Lukwago and Simeo Nsubuga noted that Mugabirwe was a young man when his life was brutally snatched from him by the state agents.
The tribunal further states that Mugabirwe was arrested over a flimsy offense of idle and disorderly as a crime, which was most likely thrown at him to justify his malicious arrest and detention as evidenced by his brutal treatment in custody.
The evidence showed that the deceased was savagely beaten, leading to the tearing of his stomach and his death in pain and agony.
The tribunal contended that the actions of the policemen were brutal, malicious, intentional, deliberate, arbitrary, sadistic, cruel, oppressive, barbaric, dehumanizing, arrogant, criminal, and impossible to justify noting that they did the opposite of what their basic role is: to protect the people of Uganda and their properties.
Meanwhile, Atwebembeire welcomed the ruling saying she had waited for justice for 15 years and hopes the government will respect the ruling.
It was alleged that on March 30, 2010 Mugabirwe was arrested by policemen of Rukungiri Central Police station on allegations of being idle and disorderly. He was detained and released on bond the following day. It was further alleged that while in detention the policemen severely beat him and inflicted on him injuries which resulted in his death on April 12, 2010 at Kisiizi Hospital.
For comments on this report, story tips or sponsored content, send us a Whatsapp message on +256 705 690 819 or E-mail us on pearltimesug@gmail.com).
Please Follow our Whatsapp Channel for More Stories HERE
