ANALYSIS OF THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM FROM TORTURE UNDER CHAPTER FOUR OF THE UGANDAN CONSTITUTION

ABSTRACT

Uganda's constitution has a wide range of provision under chapter four

that make provision for Human Rights. Uganda is also signatory to the

1984 Convention against Torture. The Convention obliges states to take

effective legislative, judicial, and administrative and any other measures

necessary to prevent acts of torture and other forms of ill-treatment within

their jurisdictions. Following the Preamble of the Constitution which

recognizes torture to have been part of Uganda's history, Uganda enacted

the Anti-Torture Act. Incorporated into its domestic laws, provisions which

prohibit the use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment. It goes further to

prescribe appropriate penalties for public officials and other persons

working in official capacity, who subject detainees and prison inmates to

torture and other forms ofill-treatment.

Despite all these instruments and mechanisms put in'place to prevent and

eradicate the use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment, this heinous

crime continues to be widespread and is practiced systematically in almost

all regions in the country and with impunity. This study will analyze

whether Uganda has put in place adequate constitutional and legal

framework and mechanisms to guarantee the right to freedom from torture

and other forms of ill-treatment for persons deprived oftheir liberty.

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