The Uganda Human Rights Commission has dismissed four complaints that were filed in the Soroti Regional, Office, citing a lack of sufficient evidence.

The Human Rights Commission Tribunal held a two-day session at the Soroti Regional office presided by Mariam Wangadya the chairperson of the commission who also heads the tribunal.

The Acting Regional Human Rights officer, at the Uganda Human Rights Commission Soroti Regional Office, Josephine Akello, who addressed journalists, explained why the tribunal dismissed four complaints.

Mariam Wangadya, the chairperson of the tribunal who also chairs the commission, said that 14 complaints from Karamoja, Sebei, Bugisu, and Teso were considered during the two days the tribunal sat at the Soroti Regional Office.

The UHRC Soroti Regional office oversees activities in Teso, Bugisu, and Sebei sub-regions. The Commission focuses on the observance of the rights of victims and the rights of suspects.

She noted that it was the first time four commissioners were sitting on the tribunal which had Mariam Wangadya, the chairperson, and three Commissioners: Simeo Nsubuga, Omara Apita, and Shifra Lukwago.

Akello explained that since the Commission was established over 30 years ago, a single Commissioner sat at the Regional office to hear complaints. She added that the tribunal will hear complaints from the regional offices in Kampala, Gulu, and Soroti.

The chairperson, Mariam Wangadya said that the commission will broaden its vision beyond complaints and consider serious human rights violations. She pointed out that investigative agencies must respect the rights of suspects.

Alex Mutai, the chairperson of the Kapkwai clan in the Kween district, said that petitioned the commission after his brother was allegedly beaten to death by personnel of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

According to Wangadya for the tribunal to sit there are other expenses such as transport costs for expert Doctors who come to testify and witnesses are also facilitated by the Commission since their travel and accommodation costs have to be met by the commission.

The Human Rights Commission has 12 Regional offices across Uganda.