RESPECT PEOPLE’S RIGHTS, UHRC TELLS COMMUNITY MEMBERS

By Morish Dramadri

Arua city

A section of members of community in Arua city have been warned to desist from mob action and respect the rights of people suspected of committing crime within the community.

This comes at a time when  cases of lynching suspected criminals especially thieves has escalated in West Nile region with about three suspects burnt to death and un estimated number of people murdered by mobs since March 2024.

During a community baraza in Arua city on Thursday April, 25th 2024, Moses Oringi, the head of civic awareness at West Nile Civil Society Network (WESCINET), lamented that by law it is not proper to kill, there are better ways to go with this.

Sabir Hassan ChuChu the local council one chairman of Ondoriku cell Tanganyika ward Ayivu division East in Arua city blamed parents for rising cases of crime.
“people are not doing enough to advice their children hence they become nuisance in the community, by smoking opium, we as local leaders if we point out their mistakes they turn against us”, Sabir said.

Meanwhile, Inspector of Police Matua Alfred Otokira the Arua central division community liaison officer urged the community to work with the police to curb mob action. “It is true that police are charged with the responsibility to protect life and property”, Matua advised.

Bosco Okurut, the head of Uganda Human Rights commission in West Nile beseeched the community to respect the rights of others. “We have the right to own a property, allow people own their property, do not violate people’s rights. By stealing people’s property, you are violating their rights, by killing people you are violating their rights,” Okurut entreated.

Mob justice is an illegal form of extra judicial punishment in which a person suspected of a crime is typically humiliated, beaten, sometimes undressed and these are usually done by a crowd.

COVER PHOTO: Police officers, UHRC official and Religious leaders during the community baraza By Morish Dramadri