ISSUE NO.35: HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND KEY EMERGING ISSUES WITHIN THE HRDS' WORKING ENVIRONMENT
THE HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE UGANDA (HRCU)
WEEKLY UPDATE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND KEY EMERGING ISSUES WITHIN THE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS’ WORKING ENVIRONMENT DURING THE PREVALENCE OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Issue No. 35
THE WEEK OF MONDAY 30TH NOVEMBER TO SUNDAY 6TH DECEMBER, 2020
INTRODUCTION
HRCU has been and shall continue to monitor, document and report on the working environment of human rights defenders in Uganda. As we draw closer to the end of 2020, we can consciously state that indeed, the environment has been and is likely to continue being fluid or dynamic.
The week in focus was characterized by some pressure within the political environment especially on the side of opposition candidates, who revealed that they were not being given level ground to carry out their campaigns; that their plans and schedules were being interfered with by security agencies who curtailed their freedom to traverse the country to speak to their audiences.
It was in the same week that the country, especially the Moslem community was shocked by the death of their head of Dawa and strong cleric, Nuhu Muzaata who passed on at International Hospital, Kampala on Friday December 4, 2020.
This Issue No.35 of the weekly updates presents some of the key highlights of stories that made news during the course of the week between Monday 30th November 2020 and Sunday 6th December, 2020. Enjoy the read.
COVID-19 SITUATION IN UGANDA
Results of COVID-19 tests done on 6th December 2020 confirmed 701 new cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are now 23,200. One COVID-19 death was registered bringing the total COVID-19 deaths to 207.
The breakdown of the new cases are 701 contacts and alerts: Kampala (290), Wakiso (74), Kasese (56), Kabarole (55), Kalungu (28), Mbarara (26), Kabale (25), Kagadi (25), Ibanda (12), Masaka (11), Kazo (11), Lyantonde (8), Kamwenge (8), Mubende (7), Hoima (6), Bundibugyo (6), Bukomansimbi (6), Nakasongola (5), Mpigi (5), Butambala (4), Kyegegwa (4), Kyenjojo (4), Nakaseke (3), Kisoro (3), Bushenyi (3), Lira (2), Buikwe (2), Rukungiri (2), Bunyangabu (2), Buhweju (2), Rubirizi (1), Kakumiro (1), Kanungu (1), Luwero (1), Kiboga (1), Mitooma (1)
Source: https://web.facebook.com/minofhealthUG/photos/a.920207488029057/3727573193959125/
NRM’S LUMUMBA TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 AS CASES RISE TO 22,499
The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba tested positive for COVID-19 as Uganda’s cases on Saturday 5th December 2020 rose to 22,499. The NRM party national treasurer, Ms. Rose Namayanja told journalists in Kampala that Ms. Lumumba tested positive on Saturday, six days after she had been in self-isolation following the positive results of her handlers early last week. Ms. Namanyanja explained that Ms. Lumumba was negative a week earlier but when her handlers tested positive a week later, the medical practitioners directed her to stay in quarantine until her samples were picked.
UGANDA AND ELECTIONS: THE ROAD TO 2021
BOBI WINE FINALLY MEETS BYABAKAMA
National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine met the Chairperson and members of Electoral Commission. He demanded the meeting to make a presentation on issues concerning the conduct of campaigns for Presidential Elections.
Kyagulanyi had off his campaigns on Tuesday December 1 in Kayunga and Jinja after day long battles with security officials, who at one point shot at his car. Security said they were enforcing a no crowds Standard Operating Procedure to contain COVID-19.
Source: Independent, December 2, 2020: https://www.independent.co.ug/bobi-wine-finally-meets-byabakama/
TAKE SECURITY OFFICERS TO COURT - EC TELLS BOBI
The Electoral Commission Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, told presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, to sue security officers if they continue to interfere with his campaigns. “There is no one above the law. There is a need to know that Mr Kyagulanyi is a presidential candidate so if these people come and pull him out of the radio, he is free to sue them so that the long hand of the law catches up with the perpetrators,” Justice Byabakama told the media yesterday after a meeting with Mr. Kyagulanyi and his team who had come to petition EC over the behaviour of security agents.
Source: Daily Monitor 3, 2020: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/take-security-officers-to-court-ec-tells-bobi-3217184
MPS FACE SWELLING LEVELS OF ABUSE - WATCHDOG
Threats and attacks targeting lawmakers worldwide are rising, an international watchdog said on Thursday, warning that some governments were using the pandemic as an excuse to crack down on opposition MPs. Over the past year, the the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) said its investigative committee had examined 552 cases, across 42 countries, of parliamentarians who allegedly faced threats, intimidation, violence and other rights violations.
That marks a hike from the 533 cases investigated in 2019, and the highest number of cases ever probed since the creation of the IPU committee more than four decades ago. Eighty-three of the cases, more than half of them in Venezuela were filed over the past year, while the remainder were follow-up cases, the IPU said. While much of the abuse was part of a continuing trend, the organisation warned that some governments were using the coronavirus crisis as an excuse "to act against opposition MPs".
In countries like Ivory Coast, Venezuela, Uganda and Zimbabwe, governments were "using lockdown laws to detain or otherwise infringe upon the rights of opposition parliamentarians", it said.
Source: Daily Monitor December 4, 2020: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/mps-face-swelling-levels-of-abuse-watchdog-3218238
NRM BOSS INJURED IN FIGHT OVER CAMPAIGN CASH
As at the close of the week, two people were nursing injuries following a fist-fight which broke out over campaign money in Minakulu Sub-county in Oyam District on Monday 30th November 2020.
The injured have been identified as Mr Geoffrey Ayena, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairperson of Acan-yie wang Village in Minakulu Sub-county, and Mr James Okello, a voter. Trouble started after Mr. Patrick Obong, the NRM MP flag bearer for Oyam South County, reportedly gave some money to be distributed to more than 500 people who attended his rally that Monday.
Eyewitnesses
say a fist-fight then ensued after the person handling the money took off with
some cash, leaving the youth and some men struggling for the remaining balance.
In the process, several gardens of crops were destroyed and Mr. Ayena and
Mr. Okello sustained injuries.
Source: Daily Monitor December 4, 2020: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/special-reports/elections/nrm-boss-injured-in-fight-over-campaign-cash-3217638
UCC BARS POLITICAL ASPIRANTS FROM HOSTING TV, RADIO SHOWS
Under the new election guidelines put in place by Uganda Communications Commission, no candidate is allowed to host a show on a radio or television station, during the election period. Irene Kaggwa Sewankambo the UCC Executive Director made the revelation in a statement released on Tuesday December 1, 2020.
"Candidates shall not be presenters of any program on radio or television during the election period," Sewankambo said. "The Commission has noted that some media houses are continuing to allow candidates that have been duly nominated by the Independent Electoral Commission, to continue presenting programs on radio and television in the contravention of the guidelines," she added.
Sewankambo urged all broadcasters to ensure that all candidates that have been duly nominated, irrespective of political affiliation are not allowed to present any program during the election period.
Source: New Vision, December 3, 2020: https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1534209/ucc-bars-politicial-aspirants-hosting-tv-radio
DEMISE OF A KEY FIGURE: MUSLIMS, UGANDANS MOURN SHEIKH NUHU MUZAATA
The Muslim fraternity in the country still mourns the death of Sheikh Nuhu Muzaata, the head of Dawa and the spokesperson of the Kibuli Muslim community. Muzaata was pronounced dead at around 3:00Pm on Friday December 4 at International Hospital Kampala - IHK where he has been admitted for the last two weeks after he developed an illness.
Imam Idi Kasozi, the head of the Uganda Muslim Youth Assembly, confirmed to Journalists that Muzaata was dead and that he learnt about the death of Muzaata shortly after Kumar prayers. He said that the Muslim fraternity has lost an icon, a strong pillar who has been a strong person on speaking on issues that affect Islam.
Source: The Independent, December 5, 2020: https://www.independent.co.ug/muslims-ugandans-mourn-sheikh-nuhu-muzaata/
MOURNERS BLOCK MINISTER FROM PRESENTING GOV’T MESSAGE AT MUZAATA BURIAL
Mourners who turned up for the burial of Sheikh Nuhu Muzaata blocked Minister Sarah Kanyike from addressing them. Muzaata who passed away on Friday at International Hospital Kampala (IHK) was buried on Saturday December 6 2020 at Kigogwa village of Gombe division in Nansana municipality, Wakiso district.
Thousands of people who were later joined by National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu braved a heavy downpour as they waited for the time to send off Sheikh Muzaata who was heading the religious affairs (Daawa) department at Kibuli Muslim headquarters.
As soon as the Master of Ceremonies announced that Sarah Kanyike, State Minister for the Elderly and the Disabled was the next on agenda to address the mourners as the time for burial approached, the gathering made a loud noise opposing her appearance before them until the MC admitted that the former deputy mayor for Kampala City Council Authority had been scrapped off the list.
Government footed all the medical bills amounting to over Shs 70m spent on Sheikh Muzaata and offered another Shs.20m to help in burial arrangements.
Source: Independent, Saturday December 6, 2020: https://www.independent.co.ug/mourners-block-minister-from-presenting-govt-message-at-muzaata-burial/
REGIONAL ACCESS: MUSEVENI OPENS ANOTHER GATEWAY TO KENYAN BORDER
President Museveni on Tuesday December 1, 2020 commissioned the new 44.5km Mbale-Bumbobi-Lwakhakha road, another gateway to the Kenyan border. The new road starts at Bumbobi in Mbale District, proceeds through Nabumali and Bubulo-Busumbu up to Lwakhakha on the border of Uganda and Kenya. It passes through 12 trading centres and three districts of Mbale, Manafwa, and Namisindwa.
The President, who cruised on the road shortly after commissioning, asked the residents to use it to transform their lives. He boasted how his National Resistance Movement (NRM) government delivered a key promise they had made to the people of Eastern Uganda as he campaigned in Manafwa District.
“The government is using taxpayers’ money to build these roads and we are going to construct more roads across the country,” President Museveni said.
Source: Daily Monitor December 2, 2020: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/special-reports/elections/museveni-opens-another-gateway-to-kenyan-border-3216306
THE WORLD OF SPORTS
CHEPTEGEI MISSES OUT, DUPLANTIS AND ROJAS WORLD’S BEST IN 2020
World record-breakers Mondo Duplantis of Sweden and Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela are the male and female World Athletes of the Year. They were named at the World Athletics Awards 2020 held virtually on Saturday after a year ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, who was a strong contender having broken three World records, was for the second year running edged out – this time by pole vaulter Duplantis, 21, who finished the year undefeated in 16 competitions. Last year, Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge was named ahead of Cheptegei.
Duplantis broke the world record in the pole vault twice (6.17m and 6.18m) before producing the highest outdoor vault of all time of 6.15m. “It was a really strange season, for me and everybody, but I was able to put it together and get some pretty good results,” Duplantis told World Athletics.
Source: Independent, December 5, 2020: https://www.independent.co.ug/cheptegei-misses-out-duplantis-and-rojas-worlds-best-in-2020/
CONCLUSION
As human rights defenders in Uganda and all over the world prepare to commemorate International Human Rights Defenders’ Day and International Human Rights Day on 9th and 10th December, respectively, it is important that reflection should be made on the true meaning of human rights as natural entitlements that accrue to everyone by virtue of being human.
It is provided under Article 1 of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, 1998 that everyone has the right, individually or in association with others to promote and strive for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms at national or international level. In doing this, peaceful means have to be used.
We ought to continue being vigilant about our health and safety and be sure to observe all the standard operating procedure (SOPs) to curb the further spread of COVID-19. The rising number of cases and deaths should be a concern for every citizen in Uganda and person around the world.
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