By KGR Reporter,
Human Rights lawyers have proposed a number of reforms for Uganda to realize a significant decrease in pro-longed pre-trial detentions and remands so as to decongest the prisons.
Uganda’s laws provide for a maximum of 48 hrs. under which the police can detain a suspect before presenting them to court or granting them police bond.
However, a recent survey by the Advocate Sans Frontiers shows that Uganda 48hrs rule in still being abused.
Although generally the number of detentions without trial are said to have reduced from 49 percent in 2022 to 48 percent in 2023, over 50 percent of suspects interviewed for the study had spent more than 48hrs in police custody.
Speaking at the dialogue on the promotion and protection of procedural rights and pre-trial detainees few days ago, Victoria Kirunda who represented the Director Legal and Human Rights of the Uganda Police said it isn’t realistic to apply the 48hrs rule collectively with no consideration of the nature of the case. Ms. Victoria speaking…
Relatedly, Dr. Sylvia Namubiru Musoke, the Executive Director of Legal Aid Service Provider’s Network observed that the police are defensive of the inadequacies of their service rather than embracing of the positive criticism so as to forge a way forward. Dr. Sylivia adds…
She urged police to follow the law by not holding suspects in cells beyond Forty eight hours. END.