A Critical Analysis of The Human Rights Perspective on The Ljse of Force A Case Study: The Uganda Police Force (Updf)

ABSTRACT

The constitution of Uganda 1995 is the supreme law of the land and consequently no law should be in contravention of the crime.

Chapter four of the constitution pertains to protection and fondarnental freedoms. These are envisaged under A1iicles 20, to 50 under Article 23 protection of personal liberty in Uganda.

The constitution under article 51 establishes the Uganda Human rights commission which is mandate among other to promote the protection and observance of human rights in public and private institutions.

Controversy the arise when the police as the government body is extricated with maintaining law and order but instead of carrying out its role, most of the police officers out are involved in what would be otherwise be termed as police brutality and torture. Due to this inhumanity conduct of the police, most nongovernmental organizations and human rights activist hence come up to advocate for the rights of the victims of police brutality. Most of the people arrested by the police are detained without undue regard and many are those who are for by the criminal procedure code that is should be granted.

Following these findings recommendations on how to deal with the acts leading to violations of human rights is given priority in consideration to the law of the land the doctrine of the rule of law and the am bits of ensuring the protection of human rights.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................. i

APPROVAL ................................................................................................................................... ii

TABLE OF CC)NTENTS ............................................................................................................... iv

ABSTR.ACT ................................................................................................................................... vi

CHAPTEii ONE ........................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Background of the Problem ...................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Staternent of the probletn .......................................................................................................... 6

I .3 Objectives ................................................................................................................................. 7

l .4 Research questions .................................................................................................................... 7

1.5 Significance of the research ...................................................................................................... 7

1.6 Literature revie,v ....................................................................................................................... 8

1.7 Research 1nethodology ............................................................................................................ 16

1.7.1 Population satnple ................................................................................................................ 16

1. 7 .2 Research design .................................................................................................................. 17

1.7.3 Types of data ........................................................................................................................ 17

1.7.4 Data collection instruments various methods were used in the collection of data .............. 17

1.8 Limitations .............................................................................................................................. 18

1.9 Delirnitation .......... : ................................................................................................................. 18

CllAPTER TWO ........................................................................................................................ 19

STRtJCTURE AND PRACTICES: THE UGANDA POLICE FORCE ............................... 19

2.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 19

2.2. Structure and organization of the police force ....................................................................... 20

2.2.1 Training and joining of the police force .............................................................................. 22

2.2.2 Accountability ............................................................................................ .. ........................ 22

2..3 Functions or the police ............................................................................................................ 23

2 .3. I Arrests .................................................................................................................................. 24

iv

2.4 Operational practices of police ............................................................................................... 25

2.5 .Judg1nent of social value ......................................................................................................... 26

2.6 Rapid police decision making ................................................................................................. 26

2.7 Police Discretion ..................................................................................................................... 27

CHAR.PTEil TIIIlEE ................................................................................................................. 29

CRITIQUE ON THE CIRMUSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE POLICE USE

UNLAWFUL FOR.CE . ............................................................................................................... 29

3.1 The use of fire anns ................................................................................................................ 29

3.2 Search and seizure ................................................................................................................... 34

3.3 Police in interrogations and confessions during detention ..................................................... 35

3 .4 Factors contributing to impunity ............................................................................................. 3 7

3.5 The major role of the police in investigation of such offences ............................................... 37

3 .6 Lack of information on human rights a buses by police officers ............................................ 3 8

3.7 Not so democratic a police force ............................................................................................ 39

3.8 The effect of a conipromised judiciary ................................................................................... 40

CIIAPTER FC)UR ....................................................................................................................... 41

CRIITIQUE OF THE LAW AND GOVERNMENT POLICIES VIS-A VIS VIOLATION

OF RIGHTSOF SUSPECTS INPOLICE CUSTODY ............................................................ 41

4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 41

4.2 Different law and their contribution to the violation by police .............................................. 42

4.3 Transparence of the police ...................................................................................................... 45

4.4 The police has a clear legal responsibility to investigate and respond to public com-plaints. 46

4.5 Political and state manipulation .............................................................................................. 47

4.6 Most of these acts are in violation of the fundamental human rights ..................................... 48

CIJAPTER. FIVE ........................................................................................................................ 51

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................... 51

5.1 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................. 51

5.2 Reconunendations ................................................................................................................... 54