Amolatar widow awarded shs60 million after husband died in prison

On February 17, the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Tribunal, sitting in Lira City, awarded shs60 million in compensation to Amolatar widow, 41.

Patrick Olum died at the Amolatar government prison. The money, awarded as general damages for the violation of his right to life, bears a 10% annual interest rate from the date the ruling was issued until the full payment is made.

The tribunal, chaired by Mariam Fauzat Wangadya and comprised of commissioners Col. (Rtd) Stephen Basaliza, Lamex Omara Apita, and Crispin Kaheru, found that the State failed to provide a plausible explanation for Olum’s death.

“We are convinced that Olum was in good health when he entered Amolatar government Prison. It is our considered view that Ogwang Jackson, the warder who was supervising the prisoners working during this period in the issue tied up Olum’s hands and legs, tied him to a tree and kicked him to death.”

According to the tribunal, the aforementioned actions “permanently separated Akello from her husband,” and Olum’s children, Colleen Ecir, Brain Aya, Steven Akwanga, Cyrus Oulm, and Brenda Akello, were “permanently deprived of a father.”

“Olum’s last hours on earth were “utter horror” because he was bullied and humiliated,” stated the human rights tribunal.

“He had worked for at least four (4) hours uninterrupted and he had to seek permission from his tormentors to fix his hoe and resume digging. He was tied tightly up with a rope and tied to a tree which rendered him completely defenseless,” they further argued.

Additionally, they were convinced that Olum was afterward brutally and mercilessly kicked by a warder until he breathed his last.

“The physical and emotional pain he suffered was unspeakable.” Olum could have breached fishing regulations by using the wrong size of net, it was not a crime worth denying him bail, and remanding him leading to his death, they stated.

“He was a man in pursuit of lawful earnings to support his family; turning to the natural resource nearest to him (Lake Kwania) and he died for this,” said the tribunal.

Orders 

The tribunal’s conclusions led to an order for the government to pay Olum’s widow, Brenda Akello, and distribute the funds among Olum’s dependents.

However, the economic or social status of the victim of wrongful death, as well as the deceased’s earnings and how much of them he spent on his dependents, were not considered when calculating the damages.

After the ruling, Akello told reporters that she lodged her complain because her husband left her with a young family which needed support.

On August 4, 2008, Olum Patrick, 35, was arrested by the Marine Police Patrol for violating fishing regulations and later detained at the Amolatar Police Station. The following day, he was taken to court and remanded to Amolatar government prison.

On August 6, the same year, Akello paid a visit to the husband and found him in good health. However, on the seventh day, Akello’s neighbor Lawrence Okello informed her that Olum had died.