The United States (U.S.) has through its U.S. Mission in Uganda urged the government of Uganda to follow up on cases of torture of citizens, saying that constant claims reflect poorly on government.
In a statement dated 4, the Mission said, “Recurring credible accounts of forced disappearance, arbitrary detention, and use of physical and mental torture of Uganda citizens by the security forces reflect poorly on the government and undermine the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda which under Article 24 state, “No person shall be subjected to any form of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
“We urge the Government of Uganda, as a party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment to protect the rights of its citizens and to hold accountable those who violate these rights.
The Mission also commended victims for their courage to speak about their experiences. The statement comes at the back of claims by novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija that he was tortured while in detention not long ago.
