ISSUE NO.30: HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND KEY EMERGING ISSUES (26TH OCTOBER - 1ST NOVEMBER 2020)
WEEKLY UPDATE ON 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 MONDAY 26TH OCTOBER – SUNDAY 1ST NOVEMBER 2020
Issue No.30
INTRODUCTION
The Human Rights Centre (HRCU) recognizes the need to have a conducive operational environment for Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) and because of this, information sharing becomes a very pertinent part of the process leading to the realisation of HRCU’s vision and mission. In doing so, the key values of integrity, professionalism and respect for all individuals, organisations and institutions are kept in sight. The information gathered and shared on a weekly basis feeds into the wider component of documentation and reporting on the situation of human rights and human rights defenders in Uganda.
Key to the period of review was a test to the right to association in relation to election monitoring and the relationship between the regulatory bodies and civil society. This is a critical period where HRDs need to come together to advance a single voice towards a common cause of making sure the coming general election are free, peaceful and credible.
Additionally, the information shared stretches into the week of 1st to 7th November but a more detailed update will be shared at the beginning of next week.
Below are some of the key highlights:
THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN UGANDA
As of Tuesday 3rd November 2020, Uganda had registered 12,971 cases, 7,566 recoveries and 114 deaths in relation to COVID-19.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=number+of+covid+cases+uganda
Globally, as of 3rd November 2020, there were 46,840,783 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 1,204,028 deaths, reported to World Health Organisation.
Source: https://covid19.who.int/
TORORO DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS CLOSED OVER COVID-19 CASES
The Tororo district local government headquarters were thrown into panic and declared a no-go area after some senior staff tested positive for COVID-19. Upon receiving information, some staff abandoned their duty stations immediately leaving their personal belongings behind.
As a measure for prevention of further spread, management decided to close the district headquarters for two days starting Thursday 29th October 2020 to allow for disinfecting of all the offices and mandatory testing for all contacts.
https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1530678/tororo-district-headquarters-closed-covid-19-cases
THE RIGHT TO PROPERTY: MPS LASH OUT AT BANKS FOR SEIZING PEOPLE’S PROPERTIES AMIDST COVID-19
A section of legislators is concerned that hundreds of Ugandans are likely to lose their properties that were mortgaged to banks during this trying period of COVID-19 Pandemic.
The MPs led by Kampala Central legislator Muhammad Nsereko, disclosed to journalists at Parliament that over 400 properties of people have been put on sale by banks as a result of defaulting on their payments. They said some of the properties that commercial banks have put on sale include hotels, commercial buildings, schools, land, houses among others.
The legislators said it is disturbing to see banks confiscate people’s property worth billions of shillings during COVID-19 pandemic just because they have delayed to clear their debts.
THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION: NGO BUREAU SUSPENDS OPERATIONS OF NATIONAL ELECTION WATCH UGANDA
The National Election Watch Uganda- NEW U is in trouble following the suspension of its activities by the National Bureau for Non-Government Organizations. NEW-U is a coalition of over 60 organizations that among others observe electoral activities across the country.
On Thursday 29th October 2020, Patrick Onen Ezaga, the Senior Communications Officer of the NGO Bureau said the operations of National Election Watch Uganda were illegal because it is not registered in the country. Ezaga says that while it is not wrong to form coalitions, they must be registered and monitored by the government.
https://www.independent.co.ug/ngo-bureau-suspends-operations-of-national-election-watch-uganda/
PEROMOTING THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION: GOVERNMENT GETS SH54B FOR STUDENTS' HOMEWORK
Students in continuing classes who did not return to school following the closure of educational institutions due to COVID-19 are set to have printed homework from the Government, thanks to a $14.57m (sh.54b) grant through the World Bank. The funds were obtained from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), which is a multi-stakeholder partnership and funding platform aimed at strengthening education in developing countries.
According to the budget monitoring and accountability unit, the funds were secured after an application by the COVID-19 national task force
https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1530616/govt-sh54b-students-homework
UGANDA AND ELECTIONS: THE ROAD TO 2021:
US EMBASSY WARNS OF DIRE CONSEQUENCES TO PERPETRATORS OF VIOLENCE IN 2021 POLLS
The United States Embassy in Kampala warned of dire consequences to individuals and organisations instigating violence among the population before, during and after the forthcoming 2021 general elections.
In a statement released on Wednesday 28th October 2020, the US embassy said whereas they are committed to a free and fair election, they would not hesitate to take action against anyone involved in acts of violence during the forthcoming period.
“The United States, along with other democratic countries, will pay close attention to actions of individuals and organizations who interfere in the democratic process or instigate violence against the civilian population before, during, or after the elections. We will not hesitate to consider consequences for those found to be responsible for election-related violence or undermining the democratic process,” the statement read in part.
11 CANDIDATES NOMINATED FOR 2021 PRESIDENTIAL RACE
A total of eleven candidates were duly nominated in an exercise that lasted two days from Monday 2nd to Tuesday 3rd November 2020. Three candidates were nominated on that is NRM’s Yoweri Museveni, ANT’s Maj. Gen Mugisha Muntu and Lt. Gen Henry Tumukunde of the Renewed Uganda Platform. One of those nominated on Tuesday is the National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine who has promised to run a people centered government where all Ugandans will fully enjoy all their freedoms.
https://www.kfm.co.ug/news/11-candidates-nominated-for-2021-presidential-race.html
GEN MUNTU WARNS OF CHAOS IF BALLOTS ARE PRINTED LOCALLY
Leader of Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu warned that allowing local companies to print the 2021 election ballots will breed chaos in the country, saying they are highly vulnerable to manipulation, especially by the ruling National Resistance Movement party.
According to him, allowing the ballots to be printed locally could throw the country into political anarchy. He asked the EC to be careful in choosing the winning bidders for the ballot printing and suggested the Commission’s decision will put lives of 42 million Ugandans at risk.
APPOINTMENTS TO PUBLIC OFFICES: GOVT ADMITS BUTEERA GOT JOB WITHOUT JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION ADVICE
The recent appointment of Justice Richard Buteera as the Deputy Chief Justice did not follow the advice by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) as constitutionally required, government has conceded. The government instead explains that President Museveni, solely used his prerogative of powers to appoint Justice Buteera to the second highest position in the Judiciary without sitting interviews.
The admission by the Attorney General on behalf of government is contained in his October 23rd reply to a case in which lawyer Male Mabirizi is challenging the appointment of Justice Buteera and Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo in the East African Court of Justice.
COMBATING CORRUPTION: EOC BOSS SYLVIA NTAMBI REMANDED TO KIGO PRISON OVER CORRUPTION
The
Anti-Corruption Court has remanded the chairperson of the Equal Opportunities
Commission (EOC) Sylvia Muwebwa Ntambi on charges of causing financial loss,
embezzlement, corruption, abuse of office, and conspiracy to defraud. Ntambi was remanded on
Thursday 29th October 2020 afternoon by Chief Magistrate Pamela
Lamunu to Kigo prison until November 4 when she returns for hearing of her
case.
Earlier this month, the court issued criminal summons against Ntambi to appear
before it but she failed to show up on three occasions citing sickness as the
reason for her non-appearance.
https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1530710/eoc-boss-sylvia-ntambi-remanded-kigo-prison-corruption
NATURAL RESOURCES, BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS: GOVERNMENT SET TO REVIVE COPPER MINING INDUSTRY IN KASESE
Government is set to revive the copper mining industry in Kasese District after 35 years of inactivity. The proposed revival of the Kilembe copper mining industry follows the recent global proliferation of electric vehicles that have sparked off fresh exploration for copper, nickel and cobalt minerals in Uganda.
Copper mining at Kilembe was stopped in the late 1970s due to the civil wars in Uganda coupled with the fall in copper prices on the world market. However, Kasese Cobalt Company Ltd still operates.
Kilembe Copper Mines Limited is the largest copper mine in the country and covers more than 128 square miles of land but much of this land is currently being encroached on by the surrounding community due to land pressure.
CONCLUSION
We look forward to a season that requires all of us as human rights defenders to be more careful as we do our work while keeping in mind that we have an uphill task of ensuring that advocacy is strengthened in terms of promoting and striving for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all citizens.
Together, we advocate; together we defend.
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