East Africa

CHRI has worked on policing issues in East Africa since 2001. Reform of East African police systems is critical and long overdue. In each of the countries of the region - Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda - policing is often characterised by brutality, torture, partiality, illegal arrest and detention, extra-judicial executions, corruption and abuse of due process. Illegitimate political interference into police operations also has a direct impact on the community's experience of the police. Meanwhile, police officers and organisations are unsupported, under-resourced and work in extremely challenging and complex circumstances.

CHRI's East Africa project works at both regional and national levels to support the development of police accountability in the region. In particular, CHRI works to support civil society to advocate for police accountability, catalyse and inform police reform initiatives and build a network of informed, effective advocates for police accountability and reform across the Commonwealth.

Current events

At the end of 2012 and beginning of 2013, CHRI finalised further public and police education on the new system of police accountability in Kenya. CHRI, in collaboration with The Usalama Reforms Forum, prepared flowcharts for professionals, a pocketbook for the police as well as pamphlets and posters for the public. Please see our materials under the heading Briefs and Information Sheets below.

Reports, Submissions and Media Articles

Reports

1. 101 Things That You Wanted to Know About the Police - Tanzania (English)
2. 101 Things that You Wanted to Know About the Police – Tanzania (Swahili)
3. Your Guide to: The National Police Service Act, The National Police Service Commission Act and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority Act (Kenya, 2012)
4. Common Standards for Policing in East Africa (2010)
5. The police, the people, the politics: Police accountability in Kenya(2006)
6. The police, the people, the politics: Police accountability in Uganda
7. The police, the people, the politics: Police accountability in Tanzania
8. A review of the Kenya Police Force budget and its effect on crime management.
9. A review of the Uganda Police Force budget and its effect on crime management.(2006)

Submissions

1. Memorandum and Recommendations regarding Uganda Communications Regulatory Authority Bill (2012)
2. Letter to Ugandan MPs regarding need to enact anti-torture legislation, March 2012
3. Submission on the Republic of Uganda Public Order Managment Bill(2011)
4. Statement At The 50th Session Of The African Commission on Human And People`s Rights (October 2011)
5. National Police Service Bill - Kenya(August 2011)
6. Independent Policing Oversight Authority Bill - Kenya(August 2011)
7. Kenya National Human Rights Commission Bill - Kenya (August 2011)
8. National Police Service Bill - Kenya (December 2010)

Briefs and Information Sheets

1. Poster: Making a Complaint about Police Misconduct - Kenya (2013)
2. Poster: Police Obligations regarding reporting deaths and serious injuries - Kenya (2013)
3. Poster: Complaints about the Police – Kenya (2013)
4. Pamphlet: Complaints About the Police – Kenya (2013)
5. Pamphlet: Arrest and Detention – Kenya (2013)
6. Pamphlet: How do I get involved in Community Policing – Kenya (2013)
7. Flowchart: Overview of Police Accountability Mechanisms in Kenya (2012)
8. Flowchart: Police Complaints Flowchart in Kenya (2012)
9. CHRI Brief: Police and the Media in Uganda (2012)
10. Legal brief: The Law regarding policing of public assemblies in Tanzania (2012)
11. CHRI Brief: UPR Recommendations made to Burundi regarding Criminal Justice related matters (May 2012)
12. CHRI Brief: UPR Recommendations made to Kenya regarding Criminal Justice related matters (May 2012)
13. CHRI Brief: UPR Recommendations made to Rwanda regarding Criminal Justice related matters (May 2012)
14. CHRI Brief: UPR Recommendations made to Tanzania regarding Criminal Justice related matters (May 2012)
15. CHRI Brief: UPR Recommendations made to Uganda regarding Criminal Justice related matters (May 2012)

Articles

1. Policing and Human Rights: Time for real change in Uganda - by Sarah Mount, The Daily Monitor, 15 May 2013
2. Independent Police Oversight Body Needed in Tanzania (October 23, 2012)
3. East Africa: Protecting Human Rights During Peaceful Protests (June 2012)
4. Kenya IPOA Performance Report – June to December 2012
5. Time for Uganda to enact anti-torture legislation - by Sarah Mount and Sanyu Awori, The Monitor, March 15 2012
6. Policing demos in Tanzania: Gone too far? - by Sarah Mount and Sanyu Awori, Africa Review, 23 February 2012
7. Policing freedom of assembly: gone too far? - by Sarah Mount and Sanyu Awori, Pambzuka News, 23 February 2012
8. Restoring public trust in Nigerian Police Force - by Sarah Mount and Rachel Banfield, The Guardian, Monday, 20 February 2012
9. Sinduhije arrest part of systematic harassment of Burundi regime critics - By Sarah Mount and Rachel Banfield, The East African, 18 February 2012
10. Rapid Response Unit should be thoroughly investigated - by Sarah Mount, Daily Monitor , 22 December 2011
11. Rogue police must be held accountable - by Sarah Mount, Daily Nation , 11 December 2011
12. Public Order Management Bill breaches fundamental rights - by Sarah Mount and Utkarsh Divyankar, Daily Monitor, 29 November 2011
13. New laws governing police sorely needed - by Sarah Mount, Daily Nation, 13 October 2011
14. Uganda under spotlight for policing freedom of assembly - by Sarah Mount, Daily Monitor, 6 October 2011

Contact

For more information on CHRI's policing work in East Africa, contact Sarah Mount ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )