The protection of citizens from torture in Uganda. What is done and what could be done? Asiimwe Jackline * Abstract This study analyses the protection of citizens from torture in Uganda. It explains that torture which has a long history in Uganda continues to be used a s an instrument of repression of political dissent citizens by the government. The study further assesses what has been done to combat torture by looking at the institutional and legal framework in place. A conclusion is made that the existing legal framework in place on prohibition of torture is sufficient. However, the study states that there are underlying weaknesses when it comes to implementation. Further, the study answers the question why torture still prevails in Uganda whereas there is sufficient legislation in place. The study suggests a three-tier preventive strategy to protect citizens from torture in Uganda namely; a legal framework that prohibits torture, effective implementation of this legal framework and mechanisms to monitor the legal framework and its implementation. Introduction and General Background Uganda has a long history of torture, often perpetrated on a very large scale. The post-inde- pendence regimes of Obote, Idi Amin and various interim governments used torture mainly as an instrument of repression. 1 As a testimony to this, Uganda had numerous torture survivors in the period 1986–1995, comprising mainly of political opponents, suspects of Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) suspects and prison inmates. 2 The period 1986 -1995 is significant because of non-patriotic leaders who failed to inculcate a culture of reverence of the law among the citizens. In addition, victims of torture had much more limited access to justice before 1995 when the present Constitution was adopted and the Uganda Human Rights Commission established. In the period 2015 to 2018, torture was as the highest violation of human rights. The report states that out the 3,008 complaints of human violation registered 1,027 were of torture. In addition to the above, in 2018 alone, the highest number of complaints of human 1. * The author is an Experienced Legal Researcher, and Human Rights Law, Constitutional Law Ex- pert as well as a Lecturer in Uganda. Contact: Tel. +256775491866 Email: asiimwejackline4@ya- hoo.com. 1 Pearl of Blood, Summary of the Report of the Uganda Commission of Inquiry into the Violation of Human Rights, UPPC, October 1994, p.29. 2 Ibid. 38 KAS African Law Study Library – Librairie Africaine d’Etudes Juridiques 10 (2023) https://doi.org/10.5771/2363-6262-2023-1-38, am 31.10.2024, 05:28:10 Open Access – - https://www.nomos-elibrary.de/agb