Remarks by UN Resident Coordinator at Workshop on Human Rights for Senior Officers of the Uganda Police Force from Wakiso District

Chairperson of the Wakiso District, Mr. Matia Lwanga Bwanika,

Commissioner of Police, Dr. John Kamya, Commandant of Uganda Police Force, Senior Command and Staff College, (Bwebajja);

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. James Kusemererwa, Human Rights and Legal Services Directorate, Uganda Police Force;

Chairperson of the Wakiso District Human Rights Committee, Mr. Elly Kasirye;

Country Representative of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Uganda, Mr. Robert Kotchani, UN colleagues;

Media professionals;

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the United Nations in Uganda, I am delighted to be part of the opening session for this three-day residential workshop for senior officers of the Uganda Police Force from the Wakiso District. This workshop is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 16 which aims at building peace, justice and strong institutions as well as our UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2021-2025 which through Strategic Priority 1 on Transformative and Inclusive Governance, outlines our ambition to help ensure that by 2025 Uganda has inclusive and accountable governance systems and people are empowered, engaged and enjoy human rights, peace, justice and security.

Today we are taking a new step to reinforce our partnership in Uganda related to governance, rule of law, peace and stability by organising for the first time this workshop for senior police officers in Wakiso District. The African Obuntubulamu value system, the UN Charter, the SDGs, the Ugandan Constitution and the National Vision 2040 have informed our efforts to create spaces such as this one where we can jointly deepen knowledge about human rights concepts and standards for police officers in order to exercise your role in law enforcement in the current global and local environment. This is also an opportunity for participants to learn from each other regarding the challenges you face in discharging your duties and possible solutions. It takes courage to keep learning how best to do our jobs and to keep the public informed of our procedures, expectations and challenges, I am confident we can continue to do this together.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live and work forever. The implications are just beginning to be understood. As a police officer, the global pandemic has joined the lists of risks and threats you need to manage every day. I wish to use this opportunity to invite us to reflect on the opportunities and challenges going forward. So let us begin with Obwesimbu which means integrity, this Obuntubulamu value enables us to create an enabling environment for the promotion of human rights. In this context, I would like to convey my most sincere appreciation to the Uganda Police Force (UPF) Human Rights and Legal Services Directorate and the Wakiso District Human Rights Committee for jointly organising this workshop with the UN Office of Human Rights. I would also like to congratulate the Wakiso District Local Government for establishing the Wakiso District Human Rights Committee in September 2019 following a recommendation from the Uganda Human Rights Commission. I invite other Districts to emulate Wakiso to create similar Committees to raise awareness on human rights issues among their residents and improve interaction with authorities. I use this opportunity to reiterate the importance of having a new Uganda Human Rights Commission chairperson appointed by H.E. the President of the Republic as soon as possible.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to use this opportunity to convey our appreciation to the United Nations Peace Building Fund for making this workshop possible as part of our UN joint project on “Harnessing the Youth’s Potential for Sustaining Peace in Uganda”. This initiative, jointly implemented by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, UNDP, UNFPA and OHCHR, recognizes the central role of the youth and women in sustaining peace and preventing conflict in Uganda. Priority districts are Wakiso, Kampala, Kasese and Bundibugyo.

I will now proceed with Obwerufu which means transparency and honesty. As the UN, we recognize that many human rights principles, norms and standards are not new to the Uganda Police Force and that experience shows the importance of regular trainings and reflections to identify key challenges at operational level as well as solutions to increase performance including practical guidance from superiors, the functioning of internal control and corrective mechanisms, frequent reminders about police professional ethics and initiatives that enhance community policing partnerships. I invite you to use this workshop to reflect on how we can address three important issues: (a) The need for absolute respect of the national Constitution, as well as the international and regional human rights obligations assumed by the State of Uganda while performing your duties; (b) The need to embrace professionalism across the Police Force, recognize good conduct, highlight efforts to eliminate corruption and showcase disciplinary action to the public; and (c) The need to record evidence of the Uganda Police Force as a national institution that provides common services to all citizens without discrimination.

Ladies and Gentlemen, before I conclude, a word on how can we accelerate action to achieve Obumu, which means unity. The Police are a key State institution tasked with protecting, promoting and fulfilling the rights of citizens and residents in a nation State. As such Police are the entry point to the justice system and this is why when the functioning of the Police is flawed it has a huge negative impact on society, on the enjoyment of human rights by the population and the branding of a nation. Being a hierarchical institution, orders and guidance by superiors are critical to ensure that human rights are fulfilled by the Force while protecting and serving the wanainchi. Your guidance as supervisors and your criteria as senior police officers to promote or reject behavior will inform how police officers execute their responsibilities. Uganda’s aspiration to become a modern society and to achieve sustainable development by adopting a people centered-environment friendly-approach to prosperity relies on a conducive environment for business, production, agro-industrilization and access to quality services including health, education and justice. The individual experiences of citizens, residents and investors with individual police officers will inform how they will judge the whole institution of the Uganda Police Force and by association the Republic of Uganda.

All United Nations member states, including Uganda, adopted a common vison of using inclusive partnerships to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. On behalf of the UN system in Uganda, I conclude by focusing on the Obuntubulamu values of empathy and civic engagement to reiterate our readiness to support your national journey towards shared prosperity, green growth and sustainable peace. We will continue to work with the people and Government of Uganda to ensure better compliance with human rights obligations, including our support to rule of law institutions such as the Uganda Police Force (UPF), the Ministry of Justice as well as civil society, social and cultural influencers. As Nelson Mandela once said, “ To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity”. Let us work together to ensure Ugandans are able to contribute safely and freely to the development of the nation.

Thank you for your attention.