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HRW calls for UN probe into western Uganda killings

Uganda

International rights body Human Rights Watch has called for an independent inquiry into the deaths of more than 155 people who perished violence between the government forces and a traditional authority in western Uganda towards the end of November 2016.

Talking to journalists in the Uganda’s capital Kampala Friday, a HRW official said: “The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extra Judicial killings should be invited as a step to establish a fact pattern of what occurred that could pave a way for a proper investigation.”

Maria Burnett, Associate Africa director at Human Rights Watch, accused the government of showing “real unwillingness” to investigate the killings.

She revealed that various international partners have extended an offer to help investigate the incident

She said: “It is a massive event what happened in Kasese, the largest number of people who have been killed in a single event since the high of the LRA war. This should not be covered over with politics. This should be about justice and accountability for all sides who have suffered. The concern is that government has poured significant resources into investigating alleged crimes by civilians. As we all know over 180 civilians have been charged with a range of very serious crimes and are still facing those charges before court but what we have not seen are investigations into the killing of civilians in Kasese.”

Friday marked six months since the Uganda People’s Defence Forces in a joint offensive with police raided Rwenzururu Palace in the western district of Kasese, reports Turkish Anadolu Agency.

Justifying the attack, the government accused local King Charles Wesley Mumbere’s royal guards of attacking security personnel and different security installations in 2016.

The agency further reports that HRW together with local human rights groups in Uganda are questioning as to why no military or police have been charged for their conduct during the violence.

However, Uganda Human Rights Commission said they carried out an investigation into the Kasese incident and dispatched its recommendations to various government ministries and President Yoweri Museveni.

Follow @Muisyo_Photo credit: New Vision Uganda

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