ISSUES NO.36 & 37: HRCU WEEKLY UPDATES ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND KEY EMERGING ISSUES WITHIN HRDS' WORKING ENVIRONMENT

 

Issues No.36 & 37: The Weeks of Monday 7^th – Friday 18^th December 2020

INTRODUCTION

The December 2020 festivities are here! Unlike past seasons, this one is marred with anxiety regarding how celebrations shall be held amidst the prevailing circumstances and realities.

As Uganda draws closer to the general elections slated January 2021, pressure keeps on mounting per day amongst the contestants of the different political offices in the country. A call was made to the effect that the bar should be raised higher for those seeking to be elected to highest office in the nation; that not anyone can just qualify to campaign to become President: https://nilepost.co.ug/2020/12/11/political-analysts-call-for-higher-bar-to-weed-out-unserious-presidential-contenders/

A reshuffle was also made within the security agencies (Police and Army) with the news being received with mixed reactions by a section of the public with some noting that this was a way of managing expectations within the electoral processes.

UPDATES ON COVID-19 SITUATION IN UGANDA

Results of COVID-19 tests done on 16 December 2020 confirmed 628 new cases and 3 deaths registered bringing the cumulative confirmed cases to 29,361 and 228 deaths.

The breakdown of the new cases are: 623 contacts and alerts: Kampala (295), Wakiso (126), Masaka (37), Mbarara (28), Luwero (24), Kabarole (21), Kasese (17), Soroti (10), Jinja (7), Mukono (5), Mubende (4), Tororo (8), Kaberamaido (3), Mbale (4), Kyotera (3), Bududa (3), Kalungu (2), Nebbi (2), Arua (2), Budaka (2), Busia(2), Zombo (2), Kaliro (1), Namisindwa (1), Amuru (1), Moroto (2), Kamwenge (1), Abim (1), Kiryandongo (1), Iganga (1), Adjumani (4), Nakaseke(1), Kyegegwa (1), Kyenjojo (1); 5 Truck Drivers: 4 Malaba and 1 Elegu

Source: Ministry of Health Uganda, Facebook page: https://web.facebook.com/minofhealthUG/photos/a.920207488029057/3752128198170291/

See more updates via: https://web.facebook.com/minofhealthUG

CURBING THE SPREAD COVID-19: KOTSA ENFORCES SOPS AS UGANDANS TRAVEL FOR CHRISTMAS

The Kampala Operational Taxi Stages' Association (KOTSA) has established tough COVID-19 guidelines for taxi users travelling to their villages for the festive season.

"We have observed laxity in enforcing the standard operating procedures (SOPs) put in place by the Ministry of Health, both on the side of the taxi operators and the passengers," said Moses Birungi, the association's public relations, and communication officer. Speaking during a press conference held at their officers in Kampala, Birungi said the established guidelines will help them enforce the measures and guidelines by the ministry of health in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 among the public.

"As we approach the festive season, many public transport users are likely to ignore the COVID-19 guidelines," he said. Among the guidelines include, observing social distance, washing of hands with water and soap, sanitizing, and wearing a facemask.

Source: New Vision, December 18, 2020: https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1535594/covid-19-kotsa-enforces-sops-ugandans-travel-christmas

COVID-19: WE EITHER UNITE OR PERISH

The overwhelmed health fraternity has lost over 14 medics to the pandemic while 1,000 have been infected. This is the grim COVID-19 situation the country is facing. As part of a media initiative to mobilise the public to take extra care during the festive season to flatten the infection curve or perish, today three major newspapers in Uganda are publishing a joint one story and editorial.

The newspapers are Daily Monitor, The Observer and New Vision. And on Friday TVs will collaborate to produce two synchronised news bulletins, which will be aired on NBS, NTV, Bukedde TV and TV West at 7.00 pm and 9.00 pm broadcasting from a studio set up in Mulago National Referral Hospital.

Source: The Observer, December 17, 2020: https://observer.ug/news/headlines/67803-covid-19-we-either-unite-or-perish

HEALTH OFFICIALS CAUTION AGAINST UPCOUNTRY TRAVEL DURING FESTIVE SEASON

On Friday December 11, 2020, health Specialists cautioned Ugandans against travelling upcountry during the Christmas holiday to avoid the spread of COVID-19.  The warning breaks a long-standing tradition amongst Ugandans, many of whom travel upcountry during the Christmas and New Year holiday, to celebrate with their families.

The specialists now fear that the Christmas holiday might end become a super spreader event for COVID-19 as numbers continue to surge, mainly from the urban centres. Dr. Monica Musenero, a senior presidential advisor on epidemics said travelling home for Christmas was going to increase the number of reported cases in the country.

Source: The Independent, December 11, 2020: https://www.independent.co.ug/health-officials-caution-against-upcountry-travel-during-festive-season/

POLICE WARNS AGAINST ORGANISING PARTIES DURING CHRISTMAS

As the Christmas holidays get closer, the police in Kampala have poured cold water on people who had started shopping for merry-making and festivities and warned of taking action on both organizers and revelers who will be arrested taking part in any music show. The Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman, Patrick Onyango warned that anyone who will be netted organizing a music show, party or concert or any other form of merry-making event will be arrested and prosecuted in courts of law.

"We want to warn the organisers of these parties to desist frombreaking the law," he said.

According to Onyango, the police have been listening, watching, and reading several online and traditional media advertising parties in different places like hotels, beaches, and other open arenas. He said these advertisements must stop immediately because they are misleading people because they have not been cleared by the police.

Source: New Vision, December 17, 2020: https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1535523/police-warns-organising-parties-christmas

SOME KEY DEVELOPMENTS:

MUSEVENI: THE CONSTITUTION SHOULD HAVE GIVEN MORE POWERS TO PRESIDENT, NOT PARLIAMENT

President Museveni, while campaigning in Rwenzori sub region blamed the Constituency Assembly delegates of 1995 for not including the President in the law making process and just limiting it to Parliament. Mr. Museveni reasoned that because of this, Parliament has failed to handle his views well thereby failing some projects he would want as priority.

“In the writing of the 1995 Constitution, they did not put the President in matters of making the law. They said that Parliament shall legislate and President’s role is to assent to these laws and if he doesn’t twice, it automatically becomes law,” he said on Wednesday December 16, 2020 at Boma grounds in Fort Portal City where he met leaders and youths from the seven districts of Tooro sub-region.

Source: Daily Monitor, December 17, 2020: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/museveni-the-constitution-should-have-given-more-powers-to-president-not-parliament-3231750

RESHUFFLES WITHIN ARMY, POLICE: GEN MUHOOZI KAINERUGABA BACK, SABIITI OUT

President and Commander In Chief Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni made a reshuffle in the security forces.

Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba is back as Special Forces Command (SFC) Commander while his former Deputy Gen. Sabiiti Muzeyi is back to General Headquarters for redeployment. Lt. Gen. Kainerugaba replaces Maj. Gen. Birungi who has been SFC commander since June 2019 when he was appointed.

SFC is a unit of the UPDF responsible for the security of the President of Uganda, his immediate family, the constitutional monarchs and vital national installations, including the country’s oil fields.

Source: The Independent, December 17, 2020: https://www.independent.co.ug/gen-muhoozi-kainerugaba-back-sabiiti-out/

UGANDA AND ELECTIONS: THE ROAD TO 2021

WHERE IS OCHOLA, SABIITI AS POLICE UNLEASH TERROR?

Human rights lawyers and activists want the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to take interest in the recent acts of violence by agents of security forces, especially the police.

Isaac Semakadde, a human rights lawyer and activist, told The Independent that special attention should focus on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Martins Okoth Ochola and his deputy (DIGP) Maj. Gen. Steven Sabiiti Muzeyi.

He said they are responsible for permitting or failing to take appropriate measures or to exercise due diligence to prevent, punish, investigate or redress the harm caused by election campaign-related extrajudicial killings and election interference witnessed  in the last month, especially during protests after presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine was arrested.

Source: The Independent, December 7, 2020: https://www.independent.co.ug/where-is-ochola-sabiiti-as-police-unleash-terror/

VIOLENCE, DEATHS CONTINUE AHEAD OF UGANDA ELECTIONS

On November 30 2020, following weeks of deadly encounters between its supporters and Ugandan security agencies, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu’s National Unity Platform tweeted: “This is war, not presidential campaigns.” A few hours later, a police car ran over his supporters in an attempt to block the opposition presidential candidate from accessing a campaign rally venue. One supporter was killed and at least four others injured.

At the next campaign stop police fired tear gas and live bullets to disperse his supporters. The injured this time included one of the police guards officially allocated to the candidate, shot in the face with a rubber bullet.

At the third rally of the day, police fired live bullets at the candidate’s car as he attempted to drive through a military barricade set up to block him from driving through Jinja City Centre. One bullet struck the windscreen of Mr. Kyagulanyi’s car, missing a fellow MP Francis Zaake, who was in the co-driver’s seat, by a whisker.

Mr Kyagulanyi suspended the campaigns and returned to Kampala to meet the Electoral Commission chairperson to demand an intervention.

Source: Daily Monitor, December 7, 2020: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/violence-deaths-continue-ahead-of-uganda-elections-3220720

MINISTER KASAIJA’S OPPONENT WITHDRAWS FROM MP RACE, APPOINTED UIA BOSS

Finance, Planning and Economic Development Minister, Matia Kasaija has sailed through unopposed as the Buyanja West member of parliament in Kibaale District following the withdrawal of his sole opponent, Mr. Paul Kyalimpa.

Mr. Kyalimpa quit the race following his appointment as the deputy director-general Uganda Investments Authority (UIA). As a result, the Kibaale District returning officer, Mr. James Aggrey Ipeto declared Kasaija unopposed upon reception of Kyalimpa’s letter.

“Please refer to the attached copy of the withdrawal letter and the declaration by the Returning Officer, of Hon Matia Kasaija as unopposed Member of Parliament for Bujanja County in Kibaale Electoral District,” reads part of Ipeto’s December 7 letter to the Electoral Commission Secretary. “This is to submit to you, the details of the candidate who has withdrawn from the Electoral Office of Directly Elected Member of Parliament for Buyanja County in Kibaale Electoral District,” the letter adds.

Source: Daily Monitor, December 7, 2020: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/minister-kasaija-s-opponent-withdraws-from-mp-race-appointed-uia-boss-3221730

SECOND BATCH OF ELECTION MATERIALS ARRIVES

The Electoral Commission (EC) on Thursday received about 10 million ballot papers ahead of January 14, 2021, presidential polls. Printed by the United Printing and Publishing of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, the consignment came aboard Etihad Airways which landed at Entebbe International Airport around noon.

EC boss Justice Simon Byabakama, accompanied by Commissioners Nathaline Etomaru and Steven Tashyobya as well as a technical team received the consignment of 10,108,400 ballot papers.

Source: New Vision, December 10, 2020: https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1534861/batch-election-materials-arrives

BOBI WINE, JOURNALISTS SPEND ANOTHER NIGHT BY THE ROADSIDE

The National Unity Platform presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine and journalists spent the night on the road in Pader, following a standoff with security forces that lasted over 8 hours. The NUP presidential candidate started off his Friday campaigns in Kole District, Lango Sub Region before trying to head to Alebtong, where he was blocked halfway on the journey around Ngetta Swamp, Lira main road.

Speaking to journalists during the standoff, Kyagulanyi said that security forces were trying to block his campaigns like they have done in over 27 districts since the start of the electoral campaigns.

Source: Nile Post, December 12, 2020: https://nilepost.co.ug/2020/12/12/bobi-wine-journalists-spend-another-night-by-the-roadside/

KYAGULANYI CLARIFIES ENDORSEMENT OF CANDIDATES IN DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES

The National Unity Platform-NUP presidential candidate Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi cleared the air on his decision to endorse candidates from different political parties. This came after he endorsed Jimmy Olanya Olenge, the Uganda People Congress candidate for the Kitgum Municipality Parliamentary seat on Saturday.

Olenge is the second parliamentary candidate to receive the endorsement of Kyagulanyi in less than a week during his campaign trail for the 2021 presidential polls. Kyagulanyi had earlier endorsed NRM’s Dr. Charles Ayume for the Koboko Municipality parliamentary seat.

Source: The Independent, December 12, 2020: https://www.independent.co.ug/kyagulanyi-clarifies-endorsement-of-candidates-in-different-political-parties/

CURBING MISCONDUCT AND THE FIGHT AGAINST TORTURE: RDC ORDERS ARREST OF POLICE OFFICERS FOR TORTURING INJURED SUSPECT AT HEALTH CENTER

On Saturday December 12, 2020, Kalangala Resident District Commissioner, Daniel Kikoola ordered the District Police Commander, Benon Byamukama to arrest police officers accused of torturing a suspect nursing gunshot wounds at Kalangala Health Center IV. The officers are said to have stormed Kalangala Health Center IV on Saturday to question Ibrahim Damba in connection to the death of Emmanuel Elweu, a police officer in Funve forest reserve.

Elweu is said to have been hacked to death during patrol in the forest and his body dumped there where it was found with machete wounds.

The officers reportedly beat up the suspect who is handcuffed on the bed until they extracted a confession from him. Kalangala Resident District Commissioner, Daniel Kikoola says that he received several calls from health workers and patients about Damba’s torture by police officers.

Source: The Independent, December 13, 2020: https://www.independent.co.ug/rdc-orders-arrest-of-police-officers-for-torturing-injured-suspect-at-health-center/

ETHICS AND INTEGRITY AT STAKE: MUSEVENI'S ASSISTANT REMANDED FOR LYING TO EC OFFICIAL

President Museveni’s assistant private secretary was Thursday remanded to Luzira Prison after she was charged with giving false information to Electoral Commission human resource officer.

It’s alleged that between November and December 2020, Ms Carolin Kembabazi, 31, while employed as assistant private secretary to the president in charge of poverty alleviation western Uganda, told EC human resource officer that the president assigned her to secure employment for Kenneth Magezi, Duncan Muramuzi and Elia Abomeire as assistant district registrars whereas not.

Ms. Kembabazi, however, denied the charges while appearing before Buganda Road Grade One magistrate, Ms. Gladys Kamasanyu.

The magistrate adjourned the case to January 6, 2021 for hearing.

Source: Daily Monitor, December 17, 2020: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/museveni-s-assistant-remanded-for-lying-to-ec-official-3232166

CLAIMING CIVIL SOCIETY SPACE: CSOS CONDEMN GOV’T FOR FREEZING NGO ACCOUNTS

Civil society activists condemned the decision by the Financial Intelligence Authority-FIA to freeze the accounts of Uganda Women’s Network-UWONET and Uganda National-NGO Forum for alleged terror financing. FIA froze the accounts of the two organisations in Stanbic Bank, ABSA Bank, KCB Bank and Standard Chartered Bank on Friday December 12, 2020 on allegations of financing terrorism.

Xavier Ejoyi, country director of Action Aid Uganda says the civil society sector is troubled about the growing smear campaign aimed at undermining their credibility and deep commitment to improving the welfare of all Ugandans.

“The allegations of NGOs financing terrorism are not only grave, they are also faceless and without basis. We are fully conscious that these accusations are intended to delegitimize our work, blackmail us and make us look bad in the eyes of the citizens that we serve,” said Ejoyi at a media briefing held on Sunday December 13, 2020.

Source: The Independent, December 13, 2020: https://www.independent.co.ug/csos-condemn-govt-for-freezing-ngo-accounts/

CONCLUSION

The best way to manage and get through this festive season is by taking all necessary precautions and observing the standard operating procedures in place to stay safe and secure from the deadly corona virus. We must also strive for peace and unity as we head into 2021 when we will go into election of our new leaders.

As much as possible, HRCU encourages regular feedback and information sharing so that we are all aware of what is going on in the different districts and regions of the country and beyond.