ISSUE NO.32: HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND KEY EMERGING ISSUES IN THE HRDS' WORKING ENVIRONMENT
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 9TH TO SUNDAY 15TH NOVEMBER 2020
Issue No. 32
INTRODUCTION
This week saw the commencement of campaigns by presidential candidates who are traversing the country soliciting and convincing Ugandans to vote for them to office. Given that this is being done amidst the prevalence of COVID-19, the question has been on how far the candidates are going in ensuring adherence to the Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) and Ministry of Health guidelines to curb the further spread of COVID-19 in the areas where they hold their activities. There has been some evidence of non-adherence to the guidelines especially where large campaign rallies were organised or held. This has in some instances led to Police intervening to disperse the large numbers of people and the issue that arose here was on the methodology used by Police in this regard as in some instances, it has instead left some people’s rights and freedoms violated.
THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN UGANDA
Results of COVID-19 tests done on 15 November 2020 confirm 237 new cases. The cumulative cases is now 16,257. 5 new COVID-19 deaths were registered; 4 from Kampala and 1 from Rubanda bringing the total COVID-19 deaths to 150.
The breakdown of the new cases are: 235 contacts and alerts: Kampala (103), Wakiso (35), Kasese (14), Busia (11), Katakwi (10), Mbarara (11), Rubirizi (8), Kabarole (7), Luwero (4), Lira (3), Soroti (4), Kabale (3), Kamwenge (2), Ngora (2), Sembabule (2), Kyotera (2), Kyengera (2), Agago (1), Kayunga (1), Isingiro (1), Nakaseke (1), Mbale (10), Kamuli (1), Buvuma (1), Mpigi (1), Kiryandongo (1), Kisoro (1).
Source: https://web.facebook.com/minofhealthUG/photos/a.920207488029057/3671558252893953/
SOME OF THE ISSUES HIGHLIGHTED IN THE WEEK
KAMULI MUNICIPALITY MP DIES
Kamuli municpality Member of Parliament Hajjat Rehema Watongola has passed away barely two weeks after her brother succumbed to Covid-19. Sam Mubialiwo, in his 40s, who was seeking the Jinja South Mayorship, recently passed on due to Covid-19, family sources said.
It's, however, not clear whether Hajjat Watongola got in touch with the deceased before, during and after he contracted the disease. News of Hajjat Watongola's death started circulating on social media Saturday morning. Mr. Charles Galimaka, a resident of Kamuli, said a sombre mood engulfed Watongola's residence in Kamuli municipality.
Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/kamuli-municipality-mp-dies-3020930
ACCOUNTABILITY: FACTORY CONTRACTED TO PRODUCE GOV’T RADIOS HAS NEVER PRODUCED ANY RADIO, HAS NO CAPACITY
The Budget Parliamentary Committee has discovered that the two radio samples available at the ‘factory’ that won the bid to produce government radios were imported from China via DHL. According to the committee, the said factory has no capacity to manufacture or even assemble radios in Uganda.
The government is currently seeking for Shs.330billion to buy radio sets from Orions Transformers and Electricals Limited, the company which was contracted to produce and supply nine million radios that were to aid with the home learning programme of non-candidate learners who are currently at home.
Members of Parliament on the Budget Complimentary Committee and some Parliamentarians on the Education and Sports Committee who visited the factory on Thursday, however, were amused by the said factory which has no capacity and has never produced any radio.
UGANDA AND ELECTIONS: THE ROAD TO 2021
UPDF, POLICE CAUTIONED AGAINST STATEMENTS UNDERMINING ELECTORAL PROCESS
Human rights activists have cautioned members of security forces to desist from making statements that undermine the ongoing electoral process. In an interview with Uganda Radio Network (URN) at his offices in Nsambya, renowned human rights defender, Dr. Livingston Ssewanyana said statements such as “we can’t hand over power to a civilian” could ruin peace in the country especially during this election period.
Dr. Ssewanyana was disappointed by the utterances of Brig. Deus Sande, the Commander of Kasajjagirwa Military Barracks in Masaka saying that as soldiers, they cannot handover power. Brig Sande made the remarks on October 26 at an event organized by Jolly Rwakanyengere, an NRM mobilizer in Masaka district to appreciate soldiers for protecting the country.
MUSEVENI HAS ALREADY WON THE 2021 ELECTIONS, OPPOSITION SHOULD STRATEGIZE FOR 2026
The election season in Uganda is nigh. Last week, the Electoral Commission carried out nominations for the 2021-2026 presidential candidates.
For the first time in almost two decades, Col (Rtd) Dr. Kizza Besigye is missing out on the ballot. Having amassed great human capital and goodwill in the populace, especially in the countryside, from a cross-section of voters, it becomes apparent that he leaves a big vacuum for the current opposition candidates in the accumulation of public goodwill.
It remains to be seen whether the first-time contenders can amass enough countrywide superstructure and resources to tilt the vote in their favour.
Read more at: https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1531755/museveni-won-2021-elections-opposition-strategise-2026
ELECTORAL COMMISSION NULLIFIES KIBALE NUP CANDIDATE, DECLARES RIVAL WINNER
The Electoral Commission (EC) nullified nomination of the National Unity Platform (NUP) parliamentary candidate for Kibale County seat in Kamwenge District after voters, who signed on his nomination forms, claimed they had signed in ignorance.
“The Independent Electoral Commission that sat on October 30 reversed the decision of dully nominated Mr. Gibson Amanya for Kibale County Member of Parliament in Kamwenge. I now declare Abigaba Cuthbert Mirembe as duly elected MP for Kibale County effective January 14,” Mr. George William Magezi, the district returning officer, announced on Wednesday 11th November 2020.
Mr. Magezi admitted that he duly nominated Mr. Amanya on October 16 but said later during the inspection of nomination forms, two people Mr Charles Kakuru, the proposer, and Mr. William Ainomugisha, the seconder, said they had been duped to sign the endorsement papers. He said for a candidate to be nominated for MP, one is required to have one proposer and a seconder and ten other supporters.
PUBLIC EXPENDITURE: GOVT SUSPENDS ALL NON-SALARY PAYMENTS
The Accountant General has
directed all accounting officers of government ministries and departments to
defer payments for the month of November and December, until further notice
from the Secretary to the Treasury.
In an internal memo, dated November 11, Accountant General Lawrence Ssemakula
said given the country's cash flow position for the months of November and
December, only payment for the five priority sectors should be made.
The priority sectors are State House, defence ministry, and the Electoral
Commission.
Read more at: https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1532112/govt-suspends-salary-payments
RISING THROUGH THE LEVELS: SSEBUTINDE WINS ICJ JOB CONTEST
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) last on Thursday 12th November 2020 picked Uganda’s Julia Ssebutinde as a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the world’s highest court.
In the first round, Justice Ssebutinde, who was vying for a second and last term, polled 124 votes while Rwanda’s choice, Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, polled 97 votes; the required majority to cause a rerun. The Nigerian candidate garnered 57 votes. Justice Ssebutinde ‘won by a solid majority’. The 15 judges of the court are elected by an absolute majority in both the UN General Assembly (97 votes) and Security Council (8 votes), so a winning candidate has to secure majority votes in both.
https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/ssebutinde-wins-icj-job-contest--3020340
TACKLING MISCONDUCT: MARINE POLICE ACCUSED OF EXTORTING MONEY FROM TRAVELLERS ON LAKE VICTORIA
Marine police operating on Lake Victoria are on the spot for extorting money from travellers to Buvuma district. The travellers claim that the police officers stop them in the middle of the lake to extort from them, which is criminal and exposes their lives to danger.
According to information obtained by our reporters, marine police often stop the boat operators to check on their life saving equipment such as life jackets, overloading and enforce the COVID-19 preventive measures. However, a boat operator told URN on condition of anonymity that the intention of the officers isn’t to maintain order on the lake but to extort money from them.
RIGHTS OF REFUGEES: SPEAKER KADAGA WANTS UN TO REVIEW REFUGEE AGREEMENTS
The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has tasked the United Nations (UN) to look after refugees rather than leaving the burden to the host countries. Kadaga said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is mandated to look after the wellbeing of the refugees.
She pointed out that though they are refugees, they should enjoy their fundamental rights without infringing on the hosts. She made the remarks during the Inter-ministerial High level meeting at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala recently.
The meeting was organized by African Women and Youth for Development with support from Oxfam.
Details at: https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1532215/speaker-kadaga-review-refugee-agreements
CONCLUSION
What do the events that keep unfolding mean for human rights defenders? It is not in doubt that human rights defenders in Uganda and across the globe work in dynamic environments, implying that they have to continue exploring new and practical avenues through which the challenges that come with the context can be addressed.
As Uganda gears up for the 2021 general elections, HRCU calls on all relevant stakeholders whether individuals, state or non-state actors and development partners to always remember that they are human rights defenders and that together, we can monitor and report any instances of human rights abuses and violations.
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