The Uganda Human Rights Commission tribunal has awarded Shillings 67 million to seven victims of security brutality in the Acholi and Lango Sub-regions.
The tribunal announced the awards on Monday during a session held at the Commission’s regional offices in Gulu City.
The victims suffered human rights violations committed by Police officers and Uganda People Defence Forces soldiers between 2004 and 2009 resulting in death, injuries, and loss of property.
In one of its rulings, the tribunal awarded Shillings 35 million in compensation to the family of Thereza Adong, a resident of Omiya Anyima Sub-county in Kitgum District for her gruesome murder by UPDF soldiers.
In a separate ruling, the tribunal awarded George Bush Okot and Stephen Bongomin, both residents of Lapul Sub-county in Pader District Shillings 17 million for the torture they underwent at the hands of UPDF soldiers on March 3, 2007.
Other victims include Private Francis Okello Ongom, a serving UPDF officer who was awarded Shillings 4 million for being tortured by his fellow soldiers in November 2006 in Nisitu in South Sudan, and Cipriano Oola and Samuel Olal who were awarded Shillings 6million for being tortured by UPDF soldiers in 2009 from Pabbo in Amuru District.
The Human rights tribunal resumed its operation early this month and is expected to handle 50 cases in Kampala, Gulu, Moroto, and Soroti.
In Gulu city, it will handle 18 complaints, all of which are against the Attorney General while five of the cases will be for delivering decisions, eight for defense hearings, three for further hearings, and one for amicable settlement.