In the last couple of months, we have either witnessed pictures of the police shooting and killing Ugandans in the Rwenzori region or most recently ruthlessly beating up people on Kampala streets as they waved at former presidential candidate Kizza Besigye. While there is no doubt that the police are playing an essential role of maintaining law and order across the country, these recent occurrences do not bode well for the rule of law and protection of human rights. I contend that Ugandan lives matter and Ugandans deserve to be treated humanely, especially by those mandated to serve and protect them.
Amnesty International reports that in Uganda, police brutality and restrictions of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly increased in 2015/2016. Attacks against activists, journalists and other media workers continued with impunity. Some Opposition politicians seeking to participate in the February 2016 elections were arrested and detained, along with their supporters.
The Ugandan situation is mirrored in Kenya where we recently saw similar actions by the Kenya police and the gruesome discovery of the body of a Kenyan lawyer Willie Kimani in a bag. The situation in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa and in many other countries bears the same footprint. The horrifying scenes of the South African police shooting protesting miners at the Lonmin’s Marikana mine are still fresh in our minds. In the United States, the story of police brutality, especially against people of colour is well documented. The Black lives matter movement bears testimony to this. The Black Lives Matter Network advocates for dignity, justice, and respect. These are critical values and principles that should apply and be enjoyed by each human being regardless of their colour, sex, political opinion or religion.
A recent study by the Center for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation in South Africa came to the conclusion that negligent police management, poor training, disrespect for law and order, criminal members within police ranks and blatant disregard for internal disciplinary procedures are the chief causes of the scourge of police brutality gripping South Africa. I believe we need to do more research into what happens to some people when they join the police and the attendant exhibited behaviour that seems to cut across countries, regions and continents. It puzzles me as to why one should beat, kick or shoot a fellow human being just because they hold different political views or are of a different skin colour. Surely, this must go beyond doing ones job and obeying orders.
Going forward, the Uganda Police Force needs to be supported to execute its mandate while being mindful that Ugandan lives matter. Use of proportionate and reasonable force/measures is required. There is absolutely no justification for shooting unarmed civilians or beating cheering crowds. People-centred policing is required akin to the much-appreciated community policing initiative by the Force. We should invest more in training the police and equipping them with no-lethal equipment so as to mitigate or reduce the scale of harm they can occasion in the execution of their duties. Individual police officers that engage in acts beyond the scope of their duty should be held to account. The Professional Standards Unit of police, which was set up to handle cases of this nature, needs to be more active and visible. This would help to rebuild public confidence in the police.
Human rights group and civil society organisations in Uganda could borrow a leaf from the US, and initiate a Ugandan lives matter movement. Human life anywhere matters and should be respected and protected. There is need to continuously engage with the police, holding them to account and reminding them that Ugandan lives matter.
Rukare@FreedomHouse.org
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