The police officials in Uganda responsible for the unlawful arrests, detainment and torture of 20 LGBTQ+ persons in an LGBTQ+ shelter have now been charged.
In July, over 50 days after the unlawful arrest in March, the 20 arrested persons, supported by the LGBTQ-friendly Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF), filed a suit in the High Court in Kampala, Uganda against two men. The two men, Philimon Woniala, the deputy officer in charge of Kitalya Mini-Maxi Prison and Hajji Abdul Kiyimba, chairman of Kyengera Town Council, were accused of torture and inhumane treatment, arranging for them to be roped together and marched to the local police station while crowds gathered and threatened them.
According to the African Human Rights Media Network, the case attracted the attention of international human rights activists, and after sustained pressure, there was an order for the LGBTQ+ persons who were violated to be compensated US$1,341 each by the Ugandan government. Uganda’s High Court ruled that the payments were needed because they had been denied their right to a fair hearing when they were held in prison for 50 days without access to their attorney or a chance to apply for bail.
“We believe that because the [prisoners] were perceived as LGBT+, the accused chairman and prisons officer and others who may torture, believe they can get away with such acts with impunity,” “It is time to set an example – that even though LGBT+ people are criminalised under the penal codes of Uganda, there is no exception or excuse to torture any individual under any circumstances.”
In a press statement by Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum, the executive director condemned the arrest and the treatment of the LGBTQ+ persons. “The fact that they were remanded to prison at the height of the COVID-19 crisis exposed them further to COVID-19 and exacerbated the already congested conditions in prison. Prisons need to be decongested rather than further congested at a time like this,” Dr. Adrian Jjuuko, the Executive Director of Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF) said.
According to African Human Rights Media Network, the Chief Magistrates Court of Wakiso has now issued a summons to the town councilman who headed the raid and beatings, Hajj Abdul Kiyimba, as well as prison officer Philimon Woniala.
“We believe that because the [prisoners] were perceived as LGBT+, the accused chairman and prisons officer and others who may torture, believe they can get away with such acts with impunity,” “It is time to set an example – that even though LGBT+ people are criminalised under the penal codes of Uganda, there is no exception or excuse to torture any individual under any circumstances.”
The civil court case against the policemen — Kiyimba and Woniala — and the state is also up for hearing on 23rd September 2020.
