ADJUMANI, UGANDA: Aggrieved women vendors in Awindiri Vendor’s Market, Adjumani are seeking justice after a Kangaroo court in the market convicted and sentenced them to six strokes of the canes on the buttocks.
The women numbering eight were accused of trading in pieces of meat from the cloaca [vagina] of crocodile which they claimed is used for soliciting for supernatural powers for boasting business.
As ill fate would have it, Aziku Rachael a vendor in the market was on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, roughed up after she was allegedly found in possession of dry pieces of meat that were chopped from the reproductive organ of a female crocodile.
Aziku Rachael, was dragged before a Kangaroo court that was chaired particularly by no one but a mob with no legal basis, Aziku Rachael, was intimidated out of her skin and pleaded guilty to all the illegal charges preferred against her.
The Kangaroo court forced the accused Aziku Rachael to name her prominent customers which she promptly did as she was under intense duress.
Her customers were soon also roughed up and questioned in chorus, they were all found guilty and sentenced to corporal punishment of canning by sticks, but with an option of a fine for those who would not want to be humiliated.
The Kangaroo court without quoting any provisions of the law sentenced the eight convicts to 6 strokes of the cane or pays a fine of shs 40.000 which is two currency points.
The constitution of the Republic of Uganda states that freedom from torture, cruel, inhuman treatment or punishment is protected under article 24, which provides that no person shall be subjected to any form of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Messia Muhamad the vice-chairperson of Awindiri vendor’s association and one of the tormentors of the victim said the action of the women has brought shame to all the women in the Adjumani district since it is unprecedented.
Mr. Zema Simon the market Clark of Awindiri explains that the chief architect of the illicit trade should be sent to jail because the use of supernatural powers for attracting maximum profits can cause death.
Sunday Onama, a pregnant woman, who became a victim of the Kangaroo court pleaded innocent, she said Aziku Rachael approached her but she declined to buy the crocodile cloaca. But her pleas could not save her from the sentence.
Hellen Keyaga a 43-year-old market vendor in Awindiri market now wants to drag her tormentors to court for causing her physical and psychological pain, she said for her life will never be the same again.
Hellen Keyaga who is still nursing pains on her buttocks and knees that she sustained as she struggled to resist the mob from mercilessly canning her.
Ajio Edna, a women activist in Adjumani has in the strongest possible words, condemned the action of the officials of Awindiri market vendors Association and has vowed to bring to justice all those who participated in torturing the innocent women.
Ajio Edna said “what is wrong in trading on parts of crocodile cloaca[vagina]if it can boast business and which law have the women broken?”.
She described the action of the Kangaroo court as primitive and inhuman, warning that the perpetrators’ will pay for the crime individually not as a group, so that abuse of the rights of women in Adjumani will be curtailed.
Nancy Aol, Adjumani based journalist and a women rights defender says she is consulting with relevant Human Rights platforms to ensure the innocent women market vendors receive justice.
Nancy AOL said she is aware that the victims are suffering sustained intimidation from the officials of the vendor’s association upon learning that, the victims are planning legal action.
A private law firm in Adjumani is already gathering evidence for instituting both civil and criminal proceedings against the perpetrators of torture against the eight women vendors.
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