KAMPALA– Lady Justice Mariam Wangadya, the Chairperson of Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has expressed the need for various key stakeholders in the the justice law and order sector to combat terrorism acts without compromising human rights.
“We are gathered here to discuss terrorism. To confront it. To outthink it. But above all, to do so without compromising the very values terrorism seeks to destroy. Because if we trade away human rights in the name of security, we hand victory to terror without a fight. No nation will ever arrest or detain its way to peace. We must be brave enough to say what many avoid: Security that tramples rights is not security.” Remarked Wangadya, at the official opening of UNOCT Workshop on Human Rights and Gender Equality in Counter-Terrorism
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On charging of terrorism suspects, Wangadya emphasized that the 48 hour rule is very crucial and it must be observed even in moments of fear.
“If we hold a suspect longer than 48 hours without charge, we may be seen as violating justice. Even if the suspect is guilty. Even if the threat is real. Because due process is not a luxury of peace. It is the foundation of it. Let us remember: A just state does not fear fair trials.”
Wangadya emphasized, that although it’s still a big challenge for Police to implement the 48 hour rule due factors like under staffing and others, no body should work towards themselves up for procedural failure.
“Let us work toward building the capacity and infrastructure necessary to honour such timelines faithfully or else we risk undermining both the spirit and the letter of the law.”
She therefore tasked officers from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Uganda Police who are charged with hard tasks like hers, not to instill fear in the people they serve as it is with the terrorism activities, but they should consider justice first.
“A nation’s greatness is not measured by how it treats the powerful, but how it treats the vulnerable even those accused of terrible things. The measure of our security lies not in the number of arrests, but in the number of rights upheld. And justice, when done rightly, does not need to shout. It simply stands firm, unwavering, and dignified.” Wangadya further added
She also commented about the 72 hour rule for Digital seizures noting that in today’s world, digital devices carry our lives. “To seize them is to hold someone’s identity in your hands. This power must be exercised with the utmost restraint. And under the strictest legal and ethical standards.We must ask hard questions: Who accesses the data? How long is it kept? What checks exist to prevent abuse? Terrorism should never be a pretext for mass surveillance.”
It’s from the above background that , UHRC boss emphasized that people’s digital rights are human rights and every intrusion must meet the test of necessity, proportionality, and legality.
