The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Tribunal has today June 24th 2025 awarded a total of Ugx 69.5 million in general damages to four individuals who were wrongfully arrested and tortured on false murder accusations.
The tribunal, chaired by Hon Mariam Wangadya included commissioners Hajat Shifrah Lukwago, Simeo Muwanga Nsubuga and Ms Jacklet Atuhaire Rwabukurukuru, began its weeklong session in Uganda’s Bunyoro Sub-region yesterday June 23, 2025.
It is reported that 4 complainants who included Simon Kirungi, his wife Scovia Nsungwa, Fred Kyaligonza and Peregrine Kwikiriza were arrested in connection with the 2008 murder of Margaret Nsungwa, sister of then-Buhaguzi Member of Parliament Tom Kyahurwenda and all the complainants are residents of Ruhunga village in Buhimba Sub-county in Hoima District.
The Chairperson of Uganda Human Rights Commission Hon Wangadya read the 23 page decision report that indicated that Kirungi was arrested on June 1st 2008, by Hoima Police officers and taken to Mugoro Forest where he was then forced to carry the victim’s body parts to the Police Station where he was detained.
Kirungi, Kyaligonza and Kwikiriza testified before the Human Rights Commission that they were severely beaten, burned with molten plastic, stripped naked, forced to sit in red ant hills and had pieces of flesh cut from their bodies while in Police custody.
The Uganda Human Rights Commission Tribunal was informed that these acts were intended to coerce confessions to the late Nsungwa’s murder and it should be remembered that in May 2011, the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped the murder charges against all complainants.
The Human Rights Commission also found that the Police violated their rights to liberty after Kirungi and Kyaligonza were held for 11 days, Kwikiriza for eight days, and Nsungwa for 14 days without proper legal process and the tribunal awarded Ugx 20 million to Kirungi, Kyaligonza, and Kwikiriza for general damages.
Additionally, Kirungi and Kyaligonza received Ugx 2 million each for violation of personal liberty while Kwikiriza got Ugx 1.5 million and Nsungwa got Ugx 4 million for the same violation.
