In a significant move towards fostering professionalism within law enforcement, over 100 police officers across three policing regions in Busoga—Kiira, Busoga North, and Busoga East—recently underwent comprehensive training on the pre-trial process and the protection of suspects’ rights. The one-day workshop, held at Source of the Nile Hostel in Jinja City over the weekend, aimed to instill a human rights-based approach to policing, emphasizing the implementation of the Uganda Human Rights Policy.
Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Erasmus Twaruhukwa, the Director of Human Rights and Legal Services, presided over the training, emphasizing the paramount importance of upholding human rights principles in day-to-day policing activities. During the session, Twaruhukwa highlighted key elements such as constitutionalism, rule of law, human dignity, accountability, transparency, non-discrimination, and active participation.
Twaruhukwa underscored the adherence to the 48-hour rule without being overly defensive, emphasizing that arrests sanctioned by superior officers contribute to the proper handling of cases from the initial stages. He stressed the need to observe the rights of suspects from the time of arrest through their appearance in court.
His Worship Ochieng Eyafes, the Grade One Magistrate at Jinja Court, discussed the three vital stages of the pre-trial process—arrest, investigations, and court appearances. Ochieng outlined the rights of suspects, including the right to understand the language used during arrest, notification of parents or guardians for juvenile offenders, timely communication with next of kin or a lawyer, and the right to apply for police bond.
Other rights discussed included compensation for unlawful arrest and detention, the right to a fair hearing, presentation in court within 48 hours, and the option to apply for habeas corpus. Ochieng cautioned the public against resisting lawful arrests and urged officers to avoid distressing practices such as categorizing civil cases as criminal.
Ms. Glady Nyanzi, the Regional Director of Public Prosecution, highlighted the interconnected roles of the police, prosecution, and judiciary. She advocated for a collaborative approach, emphasizing prosecution-guided investigations to enhance the chances of success in the pre-trial process.
SSP Rogers Sseguya and Regional CID, SSP Monday Johnson Agaba, expressed their commitment to effectively implementing the human rights policy, with a specific focus on reducing instances of human rights violations in Busoga.
The training session marks a significant step forward in promoting professionalism within the police force, emphasizing a human rights-based approach to law enforcement.
