CMI Soldiers Get Training on Respecting Human Rights

Soldiers attached to the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) have been urged to exhibit respect, discipline as well as observance of human rights in their day-to-day work.

This message was passed by Nic Bjerler, the representative of United Nations on Human Rights in Uganda while opening during a 3-day training in human rights at Ministry of Defense headquarters in Mbuya.

She also urged UPDF to act under human rights laws in order to remain relevant both locally and internationally.

“UPDF have greatly improved in preserving human rights,” she applauded.

Col Sserunjoji Ddamulira, Assistant Deputy CMI in charge of Counter Intelligence who represented the CMI Chief Brig Gen Abel Kandiho commended the human rights commission for the partnership in training soldiers.

He urged trainees to observe respect and diligence in order to build professionalism based on discipline amongst themselves.

“Its our responsibility to make sure that human rights are observed because we’re people’s army,” he cautioned.

Nowe Kakono MonaLisa, the head human rights desk at CMI, welcomed the trainees and urged them to observe respect and concentrate on their duties in order to benefit from the training.

She said the main objective of this training was to boost their understanding on what observing human rights is all about and also gain knowledge of how to perform military activities/duties.

During this training, several modules will be covered,mainly reflecting on human rights with main emphasis on practical aspects of human rights in law enforcement operations, distinguishing human rights violations, abuse and crimes in Uganda among others.

Security agencies have often been at the receiving end of criticism by rights campaigners for violating human rights through acts of brutality and sometimes torture. Last year, the military came under fire when soldiers while quelling riots in Kampala assaulted civilians including battering journalists and destroying their equipment.