| dc.description.abstract | Torture is an abominable act; one of the worst scourges known to human kind along with slavery. Torture is a calculated assault on the body and/or the mind by persons with the responsibility to protect. Torture seeks to annihilate the victim’s personality and denies the inherent dignity of the human being. It is done to instill fear, to dehumanize and degrade, and to assert power and control. The United Nations has condemned torture from the outset as one of the vilest acts perpetrated by human beings on their fellow human beings. Torture is a crime under international law and according to all relevant human rights instruments, it is prohibited and can not be justified under any circumstances. The systematic or widespread practice of torture constitutes a crime against humanity. Torture is considered one of the most heinous or serious crimes against humanity because of its profound violation of the moral and physical integrity of the individual. Uganda is part of the international community and has, for all intents and purposes, absolutely prohibited torture. This has been done through provisions in the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, the supreme law of the land, and subsequently in other legislation especially the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act. However, the scourge of torture continues in Uganda. This has in part been attributed to Uganda’s history where torture has remained a prominent tool in the repertoire of tactics that the State uses against suspects and dissidents. Arguments are made that the use of torture by regimes is as old as Uganda itself, dating back to the days of Idi Amin Dada that were characterized by safe houses and torture chambers. However, the prevalence of torture by security agencies in Uganda is more alarming with the current robust legal framework that criminalizes torture, imposes obligation on the State for the realization of the right, and provides for hefty punishments where a perpetrator of torture is convicted. The continued use of torture can therefore be attributed to the ineffective enforcement and implementation of anti-torture legislations. This research paper therefore explores the ways in which Uganda can effectively implement its anti-torture legislation, the Prohibition and Prevention of Torture Act, 2012 in order to realize international and regional obligations relating to torture. Chapter One deals with a general overview of the concept of torture in Uganda. Chapter Two lays out the legal and policy frameworks on torture, setting out international, regional and domestic legal frameworks and the State obligations they impose. It also discusses Uganda’s compliance with these obligations with major focus on the areas of concern. Chapter Three focuses on the barriers and challenges faced by different key actors and institutions in the implementation of the PPTA and realization of Obligations relating to torture while Chapter Four sets out recommendations on what can be done for Uganda to realize her international, regional and domestic obligations relating to torture. | en_US |
