HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE ON WORKING ENVIRONMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN UGANDA (7TH - 13TH SEPTEMBER 2020)
THE HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE UGANDA (HRCU)
WEEKLY UPDATE ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS AND KEY EMERGING ISSUES WITHIN THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN UGANDA DURING THE PREVALENCE OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The Week of 7th – 13th September 2020
Issue No.23
INTRODUCTION
Many events unfolded in the week of 7th to 13th September 2020 that continued to directly or indirectly affect the working environment of human rights defenders in Uganda. The NRM primary elections remained the centre of focus as at end of week, it was revealed that 373 petitions had arisen following the election results.
Additionally, the new UCC new rules on the use of online platforms stirs great opposition among CSOs arguing that these would further curtail freedom of expression.
LATEST UPDATES ON COVID-19 IN UGANDA AND THE REST OF THE WORLD
The rate at which COVID-19 is spreading in Uganda is alarming as several get infected on a daily basis. In the last update by Ministry of Health on 13th September 2020, Uganda had registered 4,799 people infected with the virus, 55 deaths in total and 2,256 recoveries.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/uganda/
The fact that the deadly virus has no vaccine yet and remains the most killer disease currently should give every Ugandan a more convincing reason to take on the Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) seriously. Worry continues to rise as some parents have still been reluctant as evidenced with cases of child labour being on the rise with children being sent to the streets to fend for their families.
Mr. Atek Kagirita, the deputy COVID-19 incident commander at the health ministry, said there are currently 33 children who tested positive and are being treated in various COVID-19 treatment centres.
Parents were advised parents to engage their children in doing homework, which is a safer option than sending them out to the streets.
https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1526903/parents-warned-exposing-kids-covid-19
The World Health Organisation also stated that people with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension and diabetes are most likely to suffer severely when infected with COVID-19. Preliminary findings from the global health body in 14 African countries revealed that hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and asthma are the co-morbidities most associated with COVID-19 patients. Most likely because most governments have prioritised response to COVID-19 and leaving out health services for NCDs, yet these chronic conditions require continuous treatment.
WHO therefore recommends controlling the use of tobacco and alcohol, saying both increase the risk of NCDs. It is also important to ensure quality primary care and referral systems to help people get the right treatment at the right time.
https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1526908/covid-19-people-ncds-suffer-severe-cases
Globally, as reported to WHO on 13th September 2020, there were 28,584,158 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 916,955 deaths.
KEY HUMAN RIGHTS AND OTHER ISSUES THAT DEVELOPED IN THE COURSE OF THE WEEK
THE ROAD TO THE 2021 GENERAL ELECTIONS
Following the recently conducted NRM primaries for the Members of Parliament, the LCV Chairperson and Mayor Positions, series of violence were witnessed in some polling stations leading to the total deaths of 6 people with several injured. Election malpractices were witnessed in the form of voter bribery which kills the sole vision of what democracy holds and that is a free and fair election process. Candidates without money to bribe at voters are left in jeopardy.
On Monday 7th September 2020, President Yoweri Museveni directed that all those who were involved in violence and cheating in the just concluded National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries be arrested and prosecuted. He also directed that Sate Minister for Labour, Mwesigwa Rukutana who was arrested over a shooting incident in Ntungamo be prosecuted.
https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1526439/museveni-prosecution-minister-rukutana
On 13th September, the NRM Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba condemned the confusion that had been exhibited in the party primaries so far conducted. She added that the party acknowledged that it had received over 300 electoral petitions.
CIVIL SOCIETY CONDEMNS THE LINING UP MODE OF ELECTIONS
Civil society organizations under the Citizens Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda revealed that the lining up mode of voting used by the NRM in its recently concluded primaries had fuelled domestic violence and left some communities divided. However, the NRM Secretary General Kasule Lumumba says the method is transparent and it was a success despite a few isolated incidences of election malpractice. According to Charity Ahimbisibwe, National Coordinator CCEDU, said the act of lining up kills the aspect of secret balloting which enables voters to cast their votes freely without compulsion.
Watch more at: https://youtu.be/muACpVeOb-s
UCC RULES CURTAIL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
On 7th September, the Uganda Communications Commission, a regulator in the development of modern communications sector ordered all online data communication and broadcasting services including but not limited to among others blogs, online televisions to obtain authorization from UCC by 5th October 2020.
Civil society activists henceforth appealed to the Uganda Communications Commission to rescind its notice, compelling online platform users to register with the commission. The activists argued that in pursuing the notice, the commission is moving to curtailing freedom of expression and of the press, which are guaranteed in the constitution.
Information Minister and government spokesperson, Judith Nabakooba said that a meeting has been scheduled with Uganda Communication Commission to discuss the proposed regulations of Social Media users, Bloggers for monitoring.
NATURAL CATASTROPHES: LANDSLIDES HIT BUDUDA
Fresh landslides hit Bududa from Namashene village, in Busiirwa on Saturday. Crops and trees uprooted and swept down the hill by water.
The Residents of Namashere village in Busirwa County Bududa district appealed for assistance in relocating from their home following heavy rains that have pounded the area in the previous week. The people who stay near the river banks are also afraid the heavy rains will result into floods.
Floods in Kampala
With the continued heavy rains in Kampala, various places around the city were covered in water. Kampala has always experienced incidents of floods which have resulted into the deaths of many.The question of flooding in Kampala city still stands as a complex issue for the authorities to resolve. Many of the efforts put forward including construction of trenches and drainage channels paint a wanting whenever the skies open up. Accordingly, Kampala Capital City Authority requires billions of money to finance a new strategic city plan that is hoped to be the touchstone to dealing with floods in the city.
Watch for more information:
COLLAPSE OF BUILDING IN MAKINDYE, KAMPALA
In the past, various buildings several reports were made regarding collapsing buildings which now raises public concern as to whether KCCA is doing enough to protect the citizens from fraudulent constructors. On Saturday, it was reported that four people were feared trapped in a four storied building that collapsed in Kampala's Makindye division on Friday evening.
The City Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, has revealed that Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) had halted the construction of the Makindye commercial structure which collapsed on Friday (11 September, 2020) night. This is the third building to collapse in Makindye division since the outbreak of COVID-19 and this arises out of negligence.
The KCCA building supervisor Joseph Balikudde and one Ochom have since been arrested by police to support the investigations in the matter.
https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1526794/building-collapses-makindye-trapping
Also see: https://youtu.be/MqvA-Ykz7E8
https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1526853/owner-collapsed-building-halted-kcca-lukwago
RIGHTS OF THE MARGINALISED GROUPS (PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES)
Over 5 million people (12.5%) of the 42 million Ugandan population are living with some form of disability. It took 10 years for Beatrice Nafula who moves with the aid of a wheel chair to find her current job as a school bursar. Nafula who holds a Uganda Diploma in Business Studies (UDBS) says discrimination and negative attitudes by employers towards Persons with Disabilities is real.
According to Edson Ngirabakunzi, the Chief Executive Officer, National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), there still remains glaring gaps in disability inclusion across all sectors.
https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1526855/employers-continue-shun-pwds-personal-gains
THE MOVE TO RE-OPEN SCHOOLS FOR CANDIDATE CLASSES
As the Government plans to reopen schools in the next two weeks, a new report showed that more than half of the private schools may not be able to re-open, since they cannot meet the set minimum standard operating procedures (SOPs).
"If the Government states that educational institutions are to reopen in September for third term, only 47% of the proprietors will be in position to reopen their education institutions," according to the report by BESO Foundation, a local rural-based education NGO.
"The majority (53%) of the proprietors are not in position to reopen their educational institutions (and) therefore, support the Government to declare 2020 a dead academic year. This is because they have been hit so hard by the COVID-19 lockdown that they don't have funds to meet the required SOPs."
The BESO study was conducted in 18 different regions in Uganda: Teso, West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Karamoja, Elgon, Bukedea, Busoga, Bunyoro, Rwenzori, Kigezi, Ankole, Greater Masaka, Greater Mubende, Greater Mukono, Greater Luweero, Greater Wakiso and Greater Kampala. The people interviewed were private proprietors of educational institutions.
https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1526682/schools-reopen-report
ACCESS TO JUSTICE: KANYAMUNYU ADMITS TO KILLING AKENA
Four years after the death of Rights Activist, Kenneth Akena, his family on 12th September hosted key murder suspect Mathew Kanyamunyu in Gulu, in the first of a series of meetings. According to witnesses the meeting is part of a phased plan to be rehabilitated in the Acholi culture, a practice known as MatoOput. While the Kanyamunyu and Akena families remain tight lipped about the nature of the meeting, we understand that there will be more meetings.
OIL EXPLOITATION IN UGANDA
A multi-national plan to exploit oil in east Africa threatens 12,000 families and fragile ecosystems, international charity groups warned Thursday. The project focuses on oilfields in Uganda and is led by French oil group Total, with work scheduled to be launched by the end of the year. But a report by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) based on studies with Oxfam charges that "risks posed by further oil exploitation in East Africa are immense."
Total, which is to work with the Chinese oil company CNOOC, the British group Tullow Oil, and the governments of Tanzania and Uganda, rejected some "allegations", but said it would continue to work with non-governmental organisations and local communities to address their questions.
MOB KILLS SIX REFUGEES IN WEST NILE
Police in Madi Okollo District, West Nile have arrested 13 people who are accused of killing six people in a refugee camp. According to police, a hunt for other suspects is ongoing as investigations continue. The incident took place in Tika 1, Block ‘D’ Rhino Camp Refugees Settlement, in Rigbwo Sub-county. Police say that on Friday, a one Yassin Rahman Ajute, who was grazing cattle near the resettlement camp, was allegedly assaulted by some youth who stay in the camp.
Ajute, according to police, informed his uncle a one Olega who is the Local Council II chairperson of Kwili Parish, about the assault. Olega reportedly rushed Ajute to Olujbo Health Centre III for treatment. It is alleged that one lady who is a member of Olega’s family went to the nearby trading centre and informed bodaboda riders and other members of the public that Ajute had been killed by some refugees. The information enraged the group that attacked the refugee camp, killing six refugees and injuring four others.
https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/six-refugees-killed-by-mob-in-west-nile-1938192
PHEONA WALL IS THE LAW SOCIETY'S PRESIDENT ELECT
Pheona Nabasa Wall is the new Uganda Law Society President. Wall replaces Simon Peter Kinobe who lost an election in the recently concluded NRM Primaries for Bugahya County in Hoima district.
https://nilepost.co.ug/2020/09/13/pheona-wall-elected-new-uganda-law-society-president/
CONCLUSION
From the above updates, the situation happening around the country requires various stakeholders to join hands with the government and work towards creating a conducive environment for HRDs and all citizens in general. There is also need to develop more actionable methods of supporting vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities most of whom are living in extreme poverty because they can’t find employment.
Finally, HRDs and all citizens should embrace the fight against COVID-19 as a personal responsibility in protecting their lives and that of their loved ones, friends and colleagues from suffering from the sting of COVID-19.
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