ISSUE NO.33: HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND KEY ISSUES WITHIN 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 16TH - SUNDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 2020
Issue No. 33
INTRODUCTION
The week of Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd November 2020 started well with high hopes of accomplishment of several tasks as individuals, organizations, institutions and nation as a whole. The events that unfolded on Wednesday following the arrest and detention of Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi in Luuka changed the whole picture around the nation as a number of citizens saw their rights and fundamental freedoms put at stake due to the fear that arose following shootings and deaths as a section of the public resisted the arrest of the presidential hopeful.
Many questions from rights holders remain to be answered by duty bearers as to why some of the abuses and violations in the country may not be prevented or avoided well ahead of time; questions such as: “if the situation is like this now, how will it be in January 2021?”
THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN UGANDA
Results of COVID-19 tests done on 22 November 2020 confirmed 197 new cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are now 18,165.
9 COVID-19 deaths were reported among previously confirmed cases following investigations. However, the deaths occurred over a period of time.
The breakdown of the new cases are: 197 contacts and alerts: Kampala (104), Sironko (20), Soroti (11), Kasese (13), Kisoro (7), Isingiro (7), Manafwa (4), Buyende (5), Mbale (3), Kyenjojo (4), Tororo (2), Bulambuli (2), Bududa (2), Jinja (2), Busia (2), Hoima (2), Ntungamo (2), Masaka (2), Kayunga (1), Kalungu (1), Kagadi (1), Amudat (1), Kamwenge (1).
Source: https://www.facebook.com/minofhealthUG
SUDAN CONSIDERS TOTAL LOCKDOWN WITH MORE COVID-19 CASES
Sudanese health authorities say a total lockdown is not out of the question after a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases across the country over the past four weeks. Acting Health minister Osma Abdurrahim, who recently recovered from COVID-19, is calling on all citizens to wear face masks and follow all other preventative measures to avoid contracting or transmitting the disease.
Abdurrahim described the higher infection rate as “terrifying.” “Three weeks ago, we registered 200 cases. Two weeks ago the number increased to 500 and this week the number has jumped to 700 positive cases, ”Addurrahaim told reporters at a Thursday evening (19/11/2020) news conference in Khartoum. He said nearly a hundred deaths were recorded in i8solation centers this past month. Aburrahim went into self-isolation when he tested positive for COVID-19 10 days ago.
Source: https://observer.ug/news/headlines/67457-sudan-considers-total-lockdown-with-more-covid-19-cases
UGANDA AND ELECTIONS: THE ROAD TO 2021
PRIEST ASKS NUP SUPPORTERS TO DESIST FROM VIOLENT DEMOS
The National Unity Platform (NUP) held prayers in memory of the people who died in riots that happened after Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine the NUP president was arrested. Fr. Jacob Sebayiga of Trinity Catholic Church Kamwokya led the prayers at which he urged NUP supporters not to attack the Police during riots and called for peaceful demonstration.
NUP supporters and families of the
bereaved lit candles and carried rose flowers in memory of their loved ones.
Kyagulanyi was arrested on Wednesday in Luuka district, where he was scheduled
to address his supporters. He was accused of declining to follow directives
issued by the Police and not observing the COVID-19 standard operating
procedures (SOPs).
On Friday 20/11/2020, Kyagulanyi was granted bail, pending trial by Jinja Chief
Magistrate Catherine Agwero, who stood in for the Iganga Court Chief
Magistrate. He was issued with stringent bail terms.
Source: https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1532926/priest-nup-supporters-desist-violent-demos
UGANDA’S BOBI WINE RELEASED, 37 DEAD IN PROTESTS OVER HIS ARREST
Uganda’s presidential candidate Bobi Wine has been released on bail, local media reported, as police said the death toll in clashes triggered by his arrest earlier this week hit 37.
Wine, who was charged with actions likely to spread the novel corona virus, is expected to appear back in court on December 18, the Daily Monitor reported on Friday.
UGANDA AND ELECTIONS: THE ROAD TO 2021
POLICE ARREST KYAGULANYI IN LUUKA OVER CAMPAIGN DIRECTIVES
Police arrested the
National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi in Luuka
district on Wednesday after he reportedly declined to follow directives issued
by them. Police also blocked Kyagulanyi and his supporters
from holding a rally in Luuka district.
Security sources told New Vision that
they were prompted to block the rally after NUP officials disagreed with Police
on the issue of venue and the size of the crowd.
Source: https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1532548/police-arrest-kyagulanyi-luuka-campaign-directives
BULLETS, TEARGAS ROCK MBALE FOR HOURS AS POLICE BATTLES NUP SUPPORTERS
Police in Mbale and Sironko spent the better part of Sunday 21/11/2020 in running battles with supporters of National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Robert Ssentuma Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine. Kyagulangyi, who was in Bugisu region failed to address any of his planned rallies in Sironko and Mbale districts as police used teargas and live bullets to disperse hundreds of people who turned up.
In Sironko, Kyagulanyi was expected to address his supporters at Nakiwondye primary school ground in Budadiri town council but police blocked his campaign team from using the venue. They instead advised his team to relocate the rally to Mafudu primary school in Mafudu sub-county, which is over 10 kilometres away from Sironko town. Kyagulanyi declined to go to the new venue.
BOBI WINE PROTESTS VICTIMS SEEK GOV'T COMPENSATION
Victims who sustained gunshot injuries during last week's city protests in Kampala are seeking compensation from the government.
On Wednesday 18/11/2020, protests broke out in many parts of Kampala and the rest of the country following the arrest of National Unity Platform presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine. Police and the army used tear gas and live bullets to quell the protests leading to the death of more than 50 people and over 100 injured.
Peter Oguyi, a boda boda rider in Kisenyi, says that he was shot in the leg near Kisenyi health centre. He explained that he was first admitted at the health centre before he was referred to Mulago hospital, where he had spent a number of days. Oguyi now wants the government to compensate him. He says that the motorcycle he drove was acquired through a loan.
Source: https://observer.ug/news/headlines/67454-bobi-wine-protests-victims-seek-gov-t-compensation
‘OPERATIONAL MISTAKES LED TO DEATH OF 49’
Uncoordinated operations between the police resulted in the death of 49 people during last week’s city protests, various sources have told Uganda Radio Network.
A police source says that the National Command Centre sat on Tuesday and resolved that there was a need to put a stop Kyagulanyi’s continued violation of the COVID-19 SOPs as stated by the Ministry of Health and Electoral Commission.
Kyagulanyi was accused of holding massive campaign rallies at the expense of standard operating procedures intended to curtail the spread of novel coronavirus disease-COVID-19. The Electoral Commission and ministry of health have restricted gatherings to only 200 people.
Source: https://www.independent.co.ug/operational-mistakes-led-to-death-of-city-protesters-police-sources/
ELECTORAL COMMISSION ISSUES REVISED CAMPAIGN PROGRAMME
Uganda’s Electoral Commission has today issued a revised Presidential Campaign Programme. It follows a week of disruptions after riots that started after presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi and Patrick Oboi Amuriat were arrested mid week. Police accused them of not following the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures related to crowds.
After the arrests, other candidates Norbert Mao, Mugisha Muntu and Henry Tumukunde suspended their campaigns, prompting this new revision by the Electoral Commission. The NUP Spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi confirmed that Kyagulanyi will resume his campaigns in Kyenjojo and Fort portal on Monday 23rd November.
According to Ssenyonyi, they are plans to reschedule his campaign programs in places where he was supposed to go before, he was arrested. The districts are Mpigi, Masaka, Kalungu, Mbarara, Lyantonde.
Source: https://www.independent.co.ug/electoral-commission-issues-revised-campaign-programme/
UNITED NATIONS ISSUES STATEMENT ON UGANDA
The UN Secretary General Aantonio Guterres has called for restraint in Uganda in the run up to the elections. This followed reports of more than 30 killed in riots that came after the arrest of presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi.
The Secretary-General is following recent developments in Uganda and is concerned over reports of violence and fatalities, following protests in Kampala. He conveys his condolences to the families of the victims and wishes those injured a speedy recovery.
The Secretary-General condemns all acts of violence and calls on the Ugandan authorities to ensure that all perpetrators of human rights violations are held accountable. He also calls for the immediate release of any individual who may have been arbitrarily arrested.
Source: https://www.independent.co.ug/un-issues-statement-on-uganda/
CONCLUSION
After documenting and sharing this information, HRCU remains mindful of the fact that the working environment of human rights defenders and the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Uganda can only be improved through concerted effort.
There is need to respect the rule of law in the country because that is one of the ways through which democratic and good governance can be attained.
Human rights defenders are encouraged to continue speaking out against the evils – abuses and violations of rights whenever and wherever they may arise, from time to time and to seek to see that all those involved in stepping on the rights citizens are brought to book.
Comments
Post a Comment