By John Stephen Katende

20^th June 2011:

Protester shot dead by security operatives on 29th April

President Yoweri Museveni should ensure that there is an independent and transparent investigation into the killings which occurred during the ‘walk-to-work’ protests and thereafter hold security forces accountable, a coalition of 105 human rights organisations demanded in a June 15^th letter to the President.

The coalition, which included civil society groups from every corner of Uganda, urged the President to invite the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary, or arbitrary executions to come and investigate the killings.

During the April 2011 protests over the rising costs of commodities and the arrest of opposition leaders, police and military officers responded to protesters with live ammunition in Kampala, Gulu, Mbale, and Masaka, leaving at least nine unarmed people dead. The circumstances of the deaths indicate that the use of lethal force was both unnecessary and unjustified.

The government has arrested hundreds of protesters and put significant resources into investigating alleged acts of looting, arson, and destruction of property, but little effort has gone into investigating killings by security forces, the groups said. Some government officials have maintained that those killed were violent protesters. One victim’s family was told at the morgue that they were not permitted to retrieve the body because “…all these people died while attempting to overthrow the government”.

“…Blaming the victims is a weak ploy to distract attention from the actions of the security forces.  The government needs to determine what really happened and to make sure that those responsible are held responsible”, said Arthur Larok of the Uganda National NGO Forum.

2year old baby Juliana shot dead inside her house

So far, only one police officer has been arrested in connection with the shooting of 2-year-old Julian Nalwanga by police in Masaka.  No one else has been arrested in connection with the other deaths of unarmed civilians.  In a May 17^th letter to the media, President Museveni himself described some of the shootings as “criminal killing”.

“…Impunity for serious crimes by members of the security forces, especially during political demonstrations, persists in Uganda”, said the civil society coalition which includes 95 Ugandan organizations.  Article 43 of the Constitution of Uganda theoretically guarantees to the right to free assembly, speech, and association but in practice, the government has often responded to the exercise of these rights with firearms and lethal force.

In September 2009, at least 40 people were killed by security forces during two days of protests in Kampala after the authorities sought to restrict the movement of Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, the King of Buganda.  Human Rights Watch also documented numerous instances in which unarmed protesters and bystanders died after police and military police used live ammunition.

Despite numerous commitments by government ministers and Uganda’s parliament to investigate these unfortunate events, no one has been held accountable for any unlawful killings.  “…We have seen the government promise investigations before, but in the end, nothing happens and perpetrators remain in active service.  The president should show that things will be different this time and listen to civil society by ensuring an independent investigation with international expertise”, said Maria Burnett, Senior Africa Researcher at Human Rights Watch.

In their petition to both President Museveni and United Nations, the groups called upon Uganda, as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, to cooperate fully with the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions and invite international experts to Uganda to investigate the killings.

“…An invitation to the Special Rapporteur would demonstrate that Uganda is committed to rule of law and understands the importance of accountability”, said Mohammed Ndifuna, CEO of HURINET-Uganda.  END.  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.