Ugandan opposition candidate Kizza Besigye
Dr. Kizza Besigye, the embattled former 2016 Presidential Candidate has today received a response from the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) 7 months after he lodged a complaint on 11th March of unlawful arrest by policemen while attending a Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) meeting at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi.
In its response to Besigye, UHRC contends that the allegations by the complainant if proved constitute violation of his rights to personal liberty, freedom from torture and cruel inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment, privacy, property, fair hearing, freedom of conscience, expression, movement, assembly and association and economic rights contrary to Articles, 23, 24, 26,27,29,40 and 44 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995.
“Be informed that the matter has been set down for hearing against the Attorney General’s office in its vicarious capacity and we shall duly notify you of the hearing date,” reads a statement from the Uganda Human Rights Commission that was posted on Besigye’s official Facebook page.
The letter that was signed by G.T. Mwesigye, the Secretary UHRC and copied to the Chairperson UHRC, Med S.K Kaggwa and the Regional Human Rights Officer, Central Asiimwe Wilfred.
According to the complaint that Besigye raised to the Commission earlier this year, he alleges that the Police unlawfully arrested him while he attended a party meeting at Nagalama Police station.
The Police said at the time that the 4 time opponent to President Yoweri Museveni was holding an illegal meeting and was a therefore a national security threat.
However, Besigye says he was forcefully taken to police cells and later driven to his home without his property which had been taken from him and recorded on acknowledgement of Prisoners Property slip.
Besigye further alleges that at the time of filling his complaint, he had been subjected to numerous arrests by Police whenever he tried to leave his home and was detained at various Police stations including; Kasangati, Kiira road Police, Division Headquarters, Nagalama and was eventually subjected to house arrest.