Opposition happy with Byabashaija sanction by the US

The Opposition is happy with the US’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for sanctioning the Commissioner General of Prisons Johnson Byabashaija.

Speaking at the Parliament during a press conference, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Hon Mathias Mpuuga said such sanctions provided an opportunity to hold all people involved in human rights violations accountable.

He said that some people while in positions of power, exercise authority with impunity.

“The lesson we learn from the sanctioning of the Commissioner General of Prisons is exercise of authority should be measured. Clearly, we have seen people come out of prisons with torture marks the media was awash especially last year with reports of torture victims and they are being produced in courts and they have been in custody,” explained Mpuuga.

OFAC sanctioned Byabashaija last week for alleged human rights violations which include among others, the torture of prisoners and illegal incarcerations.

Mpuuga said that Uganda is part of the global family of humans, and matters that concern Ugandans whose rights are being violated by people in positions of protection, in positions of responsibility is a very serious matter.

“If you are Prisons, they bring you a suspect tortured, you don’t accommodate that suspect. The fact that they haven’t come out, not to accept the tortured victims, it is the reason why they must account. A prisoner whose matter hasn’t been heard is presumed innocent, but also, there is no where in our penal laws where a person charged and found guilty is supposed to be tortured. So it all represents violation and we welcome these sanctions, I hope they offer the necessary lessons to all and sundry that human rights must be respected,” added Mpuuga.