UHRC Trains Lamwo police on human rights, refugee and host community protection

The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) is conducting a capacity-building training for police officers in Lamwo District, focusing on national mechanisms for the protection and promotion of human rights.

The training emphasised the need for officers to integrate human rights principles into their daily work, especially in protecting refugees, host communities, children, and other vulnerable groups from abuse and ill-treatment.

According to Amina Yusuf, a UHRC officer, in charge of education, the training aims to strengthen the role of the police as frontline actors in safeguarding human rights.

“The Human Rights Enforcement Act, passed in 2019, compels state institutions and individuals to respect, protect, and promote human rights, while holding accountable those who infringe upon them,” said Amina Yusuf.

She explained that Lamwo, which hosts a significant refugee population from South Sudan, presents unique challenges that require police officers to strike a careful balance between maintaining law and order and respecting the dignity and rights of all individuals.

Opoka Fionah, the regional UHRC officer said the training is meant to empower police officers to perform their duties while upholding human rights, particularly in protecting refugees, children, and other vulnerable persons from any form of abuse or exploitation.

She added that officers are also being encouraged to cooperate with lawful agencies and to report any violations of human rights to the appropriate authorities.

The District Police Commander (DPC) of Lamwo, SP Nuwagaba Ivan, commended the initiative, describing it as timely and necessary in light of the district’s context as a refugee-hosting community.

He noted that the training will help officers improve how they engage with both refugees and the host population, while ensuring that law enforcement is carried out in a professional and rights-based manner.

“This program has come at the right time when the country is going into a general election. Our officers need to understand how to handle issues affecting vulnerable groups, including refugees, women, and children, in ways that respect their rights while maintaining law and order,” the DPC said.

Civil society organisations working in Lamwo have previously raised concerns over cases of child abuse, domestic violence, and conflicts between refugees and host communities.

UHRC says such trainings are part of its broader mandate to promote a culture of human rights within state institutions and to prevent violations before they occur.

The training also highlighted the importance of early reporting of violations, building stronger partnerships between the police, the communities, and humanitarian actors to address human rights concerns effectively.

By enhancing police capacity in Lamwo, UHRC hopes to foster a safer and more inclusive environment where both refugees and host communities coexist peacefully, with their rights respected and protected.