MBARARA – The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Tribunal sitting in Mbarara City has awarded a total of Shs160 million to victims of gross human rights violations in two separate rulings delivered this week.
In the first decision, read by the Chairperson, Hon. Mariam Wangadya, the Tribunal awarded Shs 80 million to Mr. Visensio Mucunguzi, a farmer from Rwenkuriju B Village in Mitooma District, following the killing of his son, Serestino Tumwijukye.
Tumwijukye, a boda boda rider at Omukabanda Trading Centre, was shot dead on March 1, 2015 by the then Officer-in-Charge of Kashongororo Police Post, Sgt. Bagambireryo Apulinali.
According to evidence presented before the Commission, Sgt. Bagambireryo fired three shots into a busy trading centre at around 8:00 pm, when many boda boda riders were gathered at the stage.
“He shot three times in the direction of a boda boda stage. It was a busy time with many cyclists waiting for passengers. As a trained police officer, and more so one in charge of the area, he knew or ought to have known that his actions would most probably result in death,” Hon. Wangadya ruled.
The Tribunal also relied on a letter from the then Mitooma District Police Commander, ASP Adam Kakaire Mulondo, confirming that a murder case was opened against Sgt. Bagambireryo and that he was remanded to Bushenyi Government Prison.
“The fact that the Police preferred a charge of murder rather than manslaughter shows that they too believed the killing was intentional,” the Tribunal noted in its ruling.
Out of the Shillings 80 million, Shillings 5 million each will go to Tumwijukye’s mother Leticia Birungi and widow Scovia Twikyirize. The remaining Shillings 70 million will be managed by Mr. Mucunguzi for the benefit of Tumwijukye’s two children, Isaiah Taremwa and Victor Nabasa.
