The process of government of Uganda to compensate victims of the November 18th and 19th 2020 riots in which more than 54 people died while many others sustained injuries is on course -State Minister for Internal Affairs Gen. David Muhoozi said.
While appearing before the parliamentary Human Rights committee chaired over by kagadi District Woman MP Jeniffer Mbabazi, Gen. Muhoozi said compensation of the innocent victims under way and a number of compensation claims have already been presented to the Attorney General’s Office for further management.
The riots in question were ignited by the arrest of National Unity Platform (NUP) Presidential Candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu aka Bobi Wine in Luuka District. Kyagulanyi was specifically arrested for flouting Covid-19 guidelines.
In a televised address on November 31, President Yoweri Museveni said the government would compensate the families of the victims, the injured, and those who lost property during what he called “senseless riots” as long as they were not rioters.
The president also said government will compensate those who lost their properties if it can be verified.
However General Muhoozi did not provide details on the number of victims to be compensated and the amount of money to be dished out. He also noted that some of the families have opted to seek redress through the courts of law.
He told MPs that out of a total of 1,088 suspects arrested during and in the aftermath of the riots, 949 have been arraigned before court. Out of these, 333 have been convicted while 128 have been discharged. The rest are still undergoing due process.
During the interaction, Kassanda Woman Representative Flavia Kalule Nabagabe demanded that besides compensation, security officers behind the innocent deaths of by standers prosecuted.