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Rhys Davies and Ben Keith of International Human Rights Advisors have secured a landmark victory at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in the case of Acléo Kalinga v. Uganda (Communication 376/09).

The Commission found Uganda in violation of multiple provisions of the African Charter, including the right to dignity, the right not to be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, the right to liberty and security of the person, and the right to a fair trial. It ordered Uganda to conduct an impartial investigation, prosecute perpetrators, provide compensation and an apology, and strengthen safeguards against torture.

Mr Kalinga, a Rwandan national, was abducted by Ugandan security forces in 2005 and subjected to horrific treatment during nearly two years in secret detention. Medical evidence shows lifelong physical and psychological harm. His case was filed in 2009 by REDRESS, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), but judgment was only delivered in 2024 and published in 2025, highlighting systemic delays in the regional human rights system. In 2021, International Human Rights Advisors assumed conduct of the case at the request of REDRESS due to the legal complexities and concerns about reprisals against Mr Kalinga.

For Mr Kalinga, the ruling brings long-awaited recognition of his suffering at the hands of the Ugandan authorities. For victims across Africa, it sets an important precedent, reaffirming the absolute prohibition of torture under the African Charter and establishing that victims cannot be required to exhaust domestic remedies where the state itself is implicated in abuses.

Ben Keith said: “Justice delayed for sixteen years is justice denied. But this ruling brings recognition of our client’s suffering and sends a clear message that torture will not be tolerated.”

Rhys Davies added: “The outcome is important, but the challenge now is ensuring Uganda complies with the orders and provides meaningful reparation.”

International Human Rights Advisors will continue to work with partners to press for enforcement of the ruling and broader reform of Africa’s human rights institutions.

Gratitude to Sian Priory of 5SAH for assisting in this case.

For more information, contact:
Ben Keith & Rhys Davies
International Human Rights Advisors
paralegal@ihr-advisors.com

Case documents:
Acleo Kalinga v. Uganda, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Communication 376/09; Available at: https://africanlii.org/akn/aa-au/judgment/achpr/2024/10/eng@2024-03-08/source.pdf

Image: Tingey Injury Law Firm via Unsplash

About the Authors

Ben Keith Barrister

Ben Keith is a co-founder of IHR Advisors and an internationally recognised lawyer specialising in INTERPOL Red Notice challenges, extradition, international human rights law and asylum. He is the co-author of Interpol, Law and Practice (Sweet & Maxwell, 2026). He is co-editor of Red Notice Monitor, the leading public resource on INTERPOL Red Notice abuse and the practice of INTERPOL’s Commission for the Control of Files.

Ben represents clients across every region in INTERPOL Red Notice and Diffusion challenges before the Commission for the Control of Files. He has secured the deletion of Notices issued by states including Russia, China, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Belarus, Iran and Venezuela, in cases involving journalists, opposition political figures, refugees, human rights defenders and business figures targeted in commercial and political disputes. He is the author of the INTERPOL chapter in The Practitioner’s Guide to Global Investigations (Global Investigations Review, 2026).

Ben has appeared as counsel before the European Court of Human Rights Grand Chamber, the UK Supreme Court, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and the UN Committee Against Torture. He is a member of the List of Counsel for the International Criminal Court and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.

He regularly acts for politically exposed persons, journalists, human rights defenders and high net worth individuals facing extradition, INTERPOL Notices and other instruments of transnational repression. He provides legal commentary to national and international media including the Guardian, The Times, the Financial Times, The Telegraph, the BBC, Sky News, CNN, CBS 60 Minutes, The Economist, Politico and Al Jazeera.

Ben is ranked Star Individual in Chambers and Partners and a leading individual in The Legal 500 for extradition. He practises from 5 St Andrew’s Hill in London.

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Rhys Davies Barrister

Rhys Davies is a co-founder of IHR Advisors and an internationally recognised lawyer specialising in INTERPOL Red Notice challenges, international criminal law and international human rights law. He is the co-author of Interpol, Law and Practice (Sweet & Maxwell, 2026). He is co-editor of Red Notice Monitor, the leading public resource on INTERPOL Red Notice abuse and the practice of INTERPOL’s Commission for the Control of Files.

Rhys co-authored the report Undue Influence: the UAE and INTERPOL with Sir David Calvert-Smith, examining the systemic misuse of INTERPOL’s Notice and Diffusion systems by the United Arab Emirates and the implications for INTERPOL’s governance. He represents clients in INTERPOL Red Notice challenges before the Commission for the Control of Files, with particular focus on cases involving Middle Eastern and Central Asian states, and on the position of refugees, journalists and political dissidents targeted through INTERPOL by their states of origin.

Rhys has significant experience of in-country legal advice and assistance, most recently in the West Bank, and a specific interest in the Middle East. He is a member of the List of Counsel for the International Criminal Court, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. He regularly speaks at, and chairs, events at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva and at the House of Commons on matters of international law.

Rhys is the author of numerous articles on INTERPOL Red Notice practice and on justice in the Middle East, and is in demand as a commentator on international human rights. He provides legal commentary to national and international media including The Times, the Guardian, the Independent, the Financial Times, CBS 60 Minutes, Sky News, City AM and Al Jazeera.

Rhys is recommended as a leading individual in The Legal 500. He practises from Temple Garden Chambers in London and The Hague.

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