Working with police, magistrates and lawyers to promote fairer criminal investigations and trials in Uganda

Penal Reform International (PRI) is taking important and effective steps towards preventing ill-treatment and promoting the application of fair and effective criminal investigations and trials of people detained in Uganda.

At PRI’s pioneering police training course in November 2019 on investigative interviewing and international human rights standards it was revealed that only two of the participants had previously had some form of post recruitment training on human rights issues. Police officers were introduced to investigative interviewing – using the ‘PEACE model’ – a practice promoted by the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and adopted in a number of countries to replace confessional-based interrogation methods, which can lead to coercion and torture. The participants found the training useful and committed to not only pass on the acquired knowledge to their colleagues back at their various stations, but also pledged to implement the acquired skills in their work going forward. Follow on training courses were delivered in January 2020.

Mr. Neil Page, a retired police officer from the UK, now a Rule of Law consultant, sharing his expertise on investigative interviewing.

In December 2019, PRI invited magistrates from across the country for a training on best practices in the implementation of the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act (PPTA) for the effective adjudication of torture cases. Senior judges shared their experiences in such cases, and discussions focused  on issues such as expeditious handling of torture cases, identifying evidence of torture on suspects during hearings and active implementation of the PPTA while ensuring redress for the victims, and holding the perpetrators accountable through an increase in trials of torture cases.

Participants of magistrates training course alongside Hon. Justice Lawrence Gidudu (middle), H/W Angualia Moses, Registrar in charge of training at the Judicial Training Institute (third from the left) and Mrs. Doreen Kyazze, PRI- Africa Programme Manager (fourth from the right), 6 December 2019, Mukono, Uganda.

On 10 December 2019, on International Human Rights Day, PRI launched its Practice guide for defense lawyers representing individual facing the death penalty as well as a research study on the application of international fair trial standards in death penalty cases in Uganda. The participants shared their recommendations on the research findings and received copies of the report and practice guide. The launch was attended by both state and non-state actors involved in the Justice, Law and Order Sector, such as judges, Civil Society Organisations, members of the Uganda Law Society, police officers, the Uganda People’s Defence Force, Democratic Governance Facility, and private lawyers and media.

Maj. Jacqueline Nakalema sharing her views on the research findings.

In case you missed it: Read our expert blog by Asbjørn Rachlew who explains why investigative interviewing represents the safest and most efficient approach to solve crime and to counter terrorism.