Ugandan Police has relaunched the 2002 "Operation Wembley" alike operation in which it will shoot-to-kill all suspected robbers apprehended on sight, raising complaints from Human Rights Activists, citing it as mob Justice and a violation of Human Rights.
Cases of Mob Justice have been on the rise in the Country and have led to loss of many innocent lives, and the Police's intention is likely to further escalate this vice.
The Police's decision comes in the wake of increasing cases of Armed robberies especially in and around the urban centers. Most of the cases have led to death of several people including Police officers on duty.
Police announced yesterday that the Force had instructed its crackdown unit – "Flying Squad" - to deal with robbers in an effort to break the back of suspects behind organised crimes.
Kampala police spokesperson Ibin Ssenkumbi said, despite opposition from human rights activists, the re-introduced violent crackdown method will help reduce the rotation and circulation of suspected violent criminals in the country.
“We are mandated by law to put people who are found with guns out of action. These kind of criminals will not be taken beyond the scene of crime.
Human rights activists were quick to oppose the new police move, saying the method would amount to extra-judicial executions, which is against the rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
“Such operations cannot be allowed to take place because sometimes the individual maybe mistaken and some may even use the policy to settle personal vendettas. The general principle is that people should be heard,” Mr Livingstone Ssewanyana, the executive director Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, said.
Mr Patrick Tumwine of the Human Rights Network Uganda, yesterday said the police were overstepping their mandate by applying such an unconstitutional policy. “The only mandate they have in relation to shoot-to-kill is when they are acting in self defence,”
Cases of Mob Justice have been on the rise in the Country and have led to loss of many innocent lives, and the Police's intention is likely to further escalate this vice.
| Police Spokesperson Ibin Ssenkumbi. |
Police announced yesterday that the Force had instructed its crackdown unit – "Flying Squad" - to deal with robbers in an effort to break the back of suspects behind organised crimes.
Kampala police spokesperson Ibin Ssenkumbi said, despite opposition from human rights activists, the re-introduced violent crackdown method will help reduce the rotation and circulation of suspected violent criminals in the country.
“We are mandated by law to put people who are found with guns out of action. These kind of criminals will not be taken beyond the scene of crime.
Human rights activists were quick to oppose the new police move, saying the method would amount to extra-judicial executions, which is against the rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
“Such operations cannot be allowed to take place because sometimes the individual maybe mistaken and some may even use the policy to settle personal vendettas. The general principle is that people should be heard,” Mr Livingstone Ssewanyana, the executive director Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, said.
Mr Patrick Tumwine of the Human Rights Network Uganda, yesterday said the police were overstepping their mandate by applying such an unconstitutional policy. “The only mandate they have in relation to shoot-to-kill is when they are acting in self defence,”
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