- The Constitutional Court has upheld charges of torture against former police boss General Edward Kale Kayihura and seven other police officers. The ruling came after a lengthy legal process where the court examined the evidence presented by the prosecution and defence.
The charges of torture against Kayihura and the other police officers stemmed from incidents that occurred during their tenure in the police force. The court found sufficient evidence to support the allegations of torture and deemed it necessary to uphold the charges.
The accused officers were alleged to have committed acts against Joseph Kaddu, Andrew Ssebitosi, Rogers Ddiba, Boda Boda riders, and Dr. Kizza Besigye’s supporters in 2016.
The petition filed by lawyer Robert Rutaro, arguing against charging the officers who were performing state duties as agents of the state, was unanimously dismissed by a panel of five Constitutional Court Justices. The justices on the panel included Fredrick Egonda Ntende, Elizabeth Musoke, Christopher Madrama, Monica Mugenyi, and Christopher Gashirabake.
According to the UN, torture is a gross violation of human rights and is illegal under international law. The court’s decision to uphold the charges sends a strong message that no one is above the law, regardless of their position of power.
The next step in the legal process will involve the trial of Gen. Kayihura and the other police officers, where the evidence will be further examined and their guilt or innocence determined. This trial will be crucial to ensuring a fair and transparent judicial process.
The Constitutional Court’s decision to uphold the charges of torture against Gen. Kayihura and the other police officers is a significant step towards justice and accountability. It reaffirms the commitment to protecting human rights and sends a message that perpetrators of such crimes will face consequences for their actions.