Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), Mariam Wangadya, has blamed the gradual tempo in handling complaints on restricted funding, delays in constituting the price, and an overload of civil matters that belong in civil courts.
Talking on the sidelines of the continuing UHRC tribunal sitting in Jinja City, Wangadya said most complaints lack certain steering on which government entities may possibly possibly well light address them, main many complainants to latest the same points earlier than the price.
This, she explained, results in “nonredeemable time lost in perusing thru complainants’ files coupled with from side to side examination of the look statements at varied ranges.” Wangadya printed that the price has launched a nationwide initiative protecting tribunal sittings at regional offices to dispose largely of older instances, some relationship wait on over 10 years.
She added that the classes also target instances that grasp did no longer point out merit or advise which that you just may possibly imagine development. No matter chronic funding gaps, Wangadya said the price plans to retain on the very least three tribunal classes monthly with a minimal operational funds enhancement.
A purposeful UHRC tribunal requires the chairperson and on the very least three members. Citing the instance of the leisurely UHRC Chairperson Meddie Kagwa, whose successor change into appointed after better than two years, Wangadya eminent that no classes were held exact thru that interval, worsening the case backlog.
Wangadya also attributed the backlog to the immense volume of work, with many members of the final public submitting complaints with UHRC even when these instances tumble under the jurisdiction of the police or courts.
She printed plans to intensify civic schooling thru mainstream and social media to sensitize the final public relating to the types of instances UHRC can address, aiming to diminish useless filings. Wangadya said UHRC discipline officers grasp been retooled to skillfully document statements simplest from victims whose complaints tumble under the price’s constitutional mandate.
Civil society members in Jinja City grasp welcomed the tribunal sittings, describing them as lengthy leisurely. Faith Namansa of the Jinja City NGO Forum said these classes bring hope for justice after years of ready. Namansa added that the sittings wait on extra victims of torture to advance wait on forward and file complaints on the UHRC with the hopes of handsome handling over time.
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