Violence Instead of Vigilance

Summary

Recommendations

To the President and Government of Uganda

To the Uganda Police Force, Particularly the Police Standards Unit and the Criminal Investigations Department of Police

To the Ugandan Judiciary

To the Parliament of Uganda

To the Uganda Human Rights Commission

To the United States, the United Kingdom, and Other Concerned Governments, Especially Development Partners in the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS)

To the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)

Methodology

I. Background

Operation Wembley

Violent Crime Crack Unit (VCCU)

Rapid Response Unit (RRU)

II. Applicable International and National Law

III. RRU Abuses

Extrajudicial Killings

The Killing of Frank Ssekanjako

The Killing of Henry Bakasamba

The Killings in Kyengera

Other Killings

Torture

Forced Confessions

Illegal and Incommunicado Detention

Theft of Suspects’ Property, Extortion, and Theft of Evidence

Public Parading of Criminal Suspects

Trials of Civilians before Military Courts

Opportunities to Address Abuses by Rapid Response Unit

Commitments to Address Abusive RRU Practices

The Role of the Police Standards Unit (PSU)

The Role of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC)

Uganda’s Duty to Provide Lawyers to Defendants

Annex 1: Letter from HRW to Police

Annex 2: Police Letter to HRW

Acknowledgments