HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE | ISSUE NO.11 OF 2021
THE HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE UGANDA (HRCU)
WEEKLY UPDATE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND KEY EMERGING ISSUES WITHIN THE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS' WORKING ENVIRONMENT
ISSUE NO.11 OF 2021 |The Week of March 22 - 28, 2021
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the last week of March as we look forward to April 2021.
Your labor and hard work in promoting and striving for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Uganda and beyond is never in vain and at one opportune time, more fruits and impact will be realized.
Human Rights Centre Uganda (HRCU) remains committed to scanning the environment in which human rights defenders (HRDs) work in Uganda and sharing with all stakeholders relevant information that is hoped to inform better and realistic strategies towards improving the said environment so that in the course of their work, HRDs have all it takes to make human rights enjoyment a reality.
Below are some of the key updates from the week ended March 28, 2021
COVID-19 SITUATION AND UPDATE IN UGANDA
At the time of compiling these updates, Uganda had 40,794 registered cumulative cases of COVID-19, 335 deaths and 40,422 recoveries. This may imply that much as there are declining cases of new infections and deaths, everyone needs to keep up the fight against the deadly pandemic until it is "defeated."
Source and details at: Worldometers: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/uganda/
GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH COVID TASKFORCE AT VILLAGE LEVEL
In a bid to control the spread of the coronavirus in the country, the government plans to establish a COVID-19 taskforce in every village to accelerate awareness.
According to Dr. George Upenytho Duguum (Commissioner of Health Services at the Ministry of Health), in addition to creating awareness, the strategy is aimed at building trust and also enforce compliance with COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPS). He made the remarks while flagging off an orientation meeting of the National Community Engagement Strategy for COVID-19 Response at the Tororo District Headquarters on Wednesday March 24, 2021.
Source and more details at: Daily Monitor, Friday March 26, 2021: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-to-establish-covid-taskforce-at-village-level-3336918
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UGANDA CONFIRMS NEW COVID STRAINS
Government has confirmed that Uganda has registered COVID-19 cases with the South African strain B1 351 and Nigerian variant B.1.525.
These two variants are said to be more contagious than the usual virus. This was revealed by Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu, Executive Director, Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI). Asked whether the new strains would have an effect on the COVID-19 vaccine, Prof. Kaleebu said the ministry officials would continue watching and tracking whether there would be any such effect.
Source and more details at: Daily Monitor, Friday March 2021: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/uganda-confirms-new-covid-strains-3336958
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200 FATHERS DEFILE DAUGHTERS
Despite the risk of a death sentence, defilement cases and the number of fathers defiling their own daughters have more than doubled in the last one year, the latest statistics from government indicate. Defilement, under the laws of Uganda means having sexual intercourse with a person under 18 years of age.
Statistics from the Ministry of Gender indicate that 200 fathers sexually abused their daughters in the 1,682 total defilement cases reported last year through the child helpline services. This is a sharp increase from 90 fathers who sexually abused their daughters in the 451 cases reported in the previous year.
Another 175 complaints of defilement and sexual abuse were reported against immediate family members like uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, grandparents and step-fathers and mothers.
Source and more details at: Daily Monitor, Thursday March 25, 2021: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/200-fathers-defile-daughters-3336390
HUMAN RIGHTS AND JUSTICE
DPP WITHDRAWS CHARGES AGAINST BANK OF UGANDA STAFF ACCUSED OF INCLUDING UNAUTHORISED CARGO ON PLANE
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) withdrew the charges against three Bank of Uganda officials (Francis Kakeeto - Assistant Currency Director for Bank of Uganda Mbale Branch; Fred Vito Wanyama - Verification Officer and; Charles Malinga - Currency Director) who have been facing trial before the Anti-Corruption Court Grade One Magistrate, Albert Asiimwe for having allowed unauthorized cargo onto a chartered plane about two years ago. The Bank of Uganda chartered plane was on its way between France, Belgium and Entebbe International Airport on April 26, 2019.
Prosecution accused the trio for having done actions prejudicial to their employer by having corruptly neglected to perform their duties by failing to refute or report the inclusion of the said unauthorized cargo on a plane fully chartered by Bank of Uganda.
Source and details at: Daily Monitor, Thursday March 25, 2021: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/dpp-withdraws-charges-against-bou-staff-accused-of-including-unauthorised-cargo-on-plane-3336480
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JUSTICE ABODO OPTS OUT OF DPP OFFICE AFTER KASANGO CONSTITUTIONAL COURT RULING
Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo has opted out of office as the Director of Public Prosecutions owing to a recent ruling by the Constitutional Court.
Following a 2016 case filed by lawyer Bob Kasango against the DPP, the Court last week ruled that it illegal for a judge to be appointed to any executive or constitutional office and that assuming the position without first resigning as judges is illegal. President Museveni in April 2020 appointed High Court judge Jane Frances Abodo as the new Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to fill the position which was vacant for five months after the then DPP, Justice Mike Chibita was appointed to the Supreme Court.
Source and details at: Nile Post, Wednesday March 24, 2021: https://nilepost.co.ug/2021/03/24/justice-abodo-opts-out-of-dpp-office-after-kasango-constitutional-court-ruling/
MP ODONGA OTTO REMANDED TO PRISON
Aruu North County Member of Parliament Samuel Odonga Otto was on Thursday March 25, 2021 remanded to prison on charges of two counts of malicious damage to property, assault and occasioning bodily harm. Having spent a night at Pader Central Police detention cells after his transfer from Kampala to Gulu, he appeared for mention of his case before the Grade One Magistrate's Court presided over by Edward Akankwasa.
He is remanded until April 6, 2021 when his bail application will be heard and determined.
Source and details at: The Independent, Friday March 26, 2021: https://www.independent.co.ug/mp-odonga-otto-remanded-to-prison/
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ASSAULTED GHETTO TV JOURNALIST ASHRAF WITHDRAWS CASE AGAINST GOV'T
Assaulted Ghetto TV journalist Ashraf Kasirye withdrew his case against government in which he was seeking compensation for damages caused to him during the just concluded elections.
On Friday March 26, 2021, Kasirye who initially wanted to be compensated with an unspecified amount of money withdrew his case against the Attorney General filed before the civil division of High Court on grounds that he is in a bad state.
This was during a court session presided over by Lady Justice Esta Nambayo who had in the previous session held on March 11, 2021 allowed Kasirye's lawyers led by Augustine Akineza to file additional allegations against government because in that session, the lawyers had told court that their client was again badly assulted on December 27, 2020 as Kyagulanyi was heading to Lwengo district for his Presidential campaigns.
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CIVIL SOCIETY REPORTS
UGANDAN INTERNET USERS UNAWARE OF DIGITAL RIGHTS
Appreciation goes to everyone standing firm to proclaim the gospel of human rights promotion and protection. Many people hailed President John Pombe Magufuli for his contribution to his nation as leader. Lessons were learned in the governance arena and as human rights defenders, we shall continue to pray for the peace and stability of not only Uganda but all nations of the world.
A report by civil society organization, Unwanted Witness, indicates that Ugandans are unaware of their digital rights yet the government is pulling all stops to violate them.
The January 2021 report titled "The Current State and Development of Digital Human Rights and Internet Governance in Uganda" launched at Hotel Africana the previous week revealed that half of the 547 respondents (58% male, 41% female and 1% other), at least were unaware of digital governance or their digital rights, especially the right to internet, access and affordability.
Digital rights violations according to the report are characterized by arrests and intimidation of online users, internet blockages ad a proliferation of laws and regulations that undermine the potential of technology to drive socio-economic and political development worldwide.
Source and details at: The Observer, Thursday March 25, 2021: https://observer.ug/businessnews/69030-ugandan-internet-users-unaware-of-digital-rights
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ECONOMIC CONTEXT
UGANDA'S DOMESTIC DEBT BREAKS CEILING, CSOS URGE IMF TO RELEASE RESERVES
The government has acknowledged that it has broken its own domestic debt ceiling to a level which it calls "unhealthy domestic borrowing."
The amount of debt that the government has acquired from the domestic market has gone up to 6.8trillion shillings which is more than one percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), initially set as the maximum.
The debt levels have been further pushed by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to contain it. With economic growth declining sharply and in some cases to negative rates, there are now calls for the governments to go for credit relief and other measures.
Source and details at: The Independent, Friday March 26, 2021: https://www.independent.co.ug/ugandas-domestic-debt-breaks-ceiling-csos-urge-imf-to-release-reserves/
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EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY NEWS
TANZANIA'S MAGUFULI BURIED IN CHATO
Tanzania's fifth President John Magufuli was buried on Friday evening at his home in Chato, North Western Tanzania.
The body of the late President arrived at Rubambagwe Stadium, Chato, mid-morning and he was honored with singing of both the national anthem and the East African anthem and, a 21-gun salute.
Source and details at: The East African: Friday March 26, 2021: https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/magufuli-burial-tanzania-3336906
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KENYA: GOV'T ORDERS CLOSURE OF DADAAB, KAKUMA REFUGEE CAMPS
Kenya has ordered the closure of the massive Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps, which collectively host over 500,000 people, within the next two weeks. The government is citing national security threats posed by some of the refugees, including past terror attacks that have been linked to accomplices of the Somali-based Al-Shabaab militant group within the camps.
Source and details at: AllAfrica News, Wednesday March 24, 2021: https://allafrica.com/stories/202103240469.html
RWANDA: HOTEL RWANDA "HERO" QUITS TRIAL, SAYS DOESN'T EXPECT JUSTICE
Paul Rusesabagina, a Rwandan government critic who was hailed as a hero during a genocide in the country, has not showed up for his trial after informing prison authorities he was quitting the process as he did not expect justice.
Rusesabagina, whose actions during the 1994 bloodbath inspired hit movie hotel Rwanda, has been charged with nine offences, including "terrorism" for starting an armed group in recent years that is accused of staging attacks within Rwanda.
Source and details: Aljazeera News: Wednesday March 24, 2021: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/24/hotel-rwanda-hero-quits-trial-says-expects-no-justice
CONCLUSION
Together We Contribute To The Desired Conducive Human Rights Promotion Environment
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