HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE: ISSUE NO.18 OF 2021
HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE: ISSUE NO.18 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.18 of 2021 |The Week of May 10- May 16, 2021
As was witnessed on May 12, 2021, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Tubuhaburwa Museveni swore into office for his sixth elective term to lead Uganda for the next five years. We pray that among the many priorities for the nation, the promotion and realisation of human rights shall be taken into account.
It was in the same week that muslims around the world celebrated Eid. HRCU truly congratulates and wishes them the very best in life.
Below are some of the key highlights from the week in review.
COVID-19 SITUATION IN UGANDA
Results of COVID-19 tests done on 15 May 2021 confirm 80 new cases out of 2,424 samples tested. The cumulative confirmed cases are 42,859. Active cases on admission at health facility: 83
Total COVID-19 deaths: 347 Cumulative COVID-19 recoveries: 42,429
Total number of people vaccinated against COVID-19: 440,483 The breakdown of the new cases are: 80 contacts and Alerts: Kampala (39) Gulu (11) Arua (8) Rubirizi (4) Mbale (4) Kiryandongo (3) Wakiso (4) Oyam (2) Pader (2) Adjumani (1) Sironko (1) Mbarara (1)
UGANDAN SHOT DEAD IN SOUTH SUDAN
Unknown gunmen
shot dead a 40-year-old Ugandan health specialist in South Sudan.
The deceased
has been identified as Clara Amono, a specialist in reproductive health working
for Cordaid, an international emergency relief and development organization in
South Sudan.
Amono was shot
in an ambush between Chukudum and Camp 15 in Budi county, Eastern Equatorial
state. She succumbed to her injuries. An unidentified driver of the same
organization also reportedly sustained gunshot injuries.
The deceased
was on active duty travelling from Torit state to another location to support a
medical facility when their convoy of vehicles operated by Cordaid and Save the
Children International, came under gunfire from unidentified attackers.
Cordaid has confirmed the incident in a statement published on the organization’s website.
Ugandan shot dead in South Sudan (independent.co.ug)
MUSLIMS
DEMAND FOR POSITIONS IN NEW CABINET
The head of
the Tabliq sect, Amir Uma Muhammad Yunus Kamoga has asked President Yoweri
Museveni to consider appointing Muslims to his new cabinet.
Kamoga says
that Muslims should be considered for appointment in key positions of
responsibility because the Muslim community has several issues that have not
been attended to and require political intervention.
Kamoga in his message to the Muslims during the Eid-Eli Fitri prayers held at Nakivubo Blue Primary school also asked the government to reopen the mosque at William street known as Masjid Noor that was closed due to wrangles.
The Mufti of
Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubaje has called for the unconditional release
of all political prisoners arrested during and after the 2021 elections.
The mufti made
the remarks on Thursday while speaking to thousands of muslims that converged
at Gaddafi National Mosque at Old Kampala to celebrate Eid al-Fitr which marks
the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Mufti Mubajje who is also the chairperson of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda says releasing the prisoners can heal the country from the wounds of the troubled election period.
Mufti Mubaje calls for unconditional release of political prisoners (independent.co.ug)
KAFUUZI CALLS FOR LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS GAP AFTER EXPIRY OF
MINISTERS TENURE
Deputy
Attorney General Jackson Kafuuzi Karugaba has said ministers can only continue
working if President Museveni issues a special instrument allowing them to
work.
The term of ministers, the Vice President, the Prime Minister
among others expired on Tuesday ahead of President Museveni’s swearing-in
ceremony on Wednesday.
Parliament also concluded its five-year term and the sessions
have been adjourned pending dissolution on 18th May.
Kafuuzi says that ministers can access their offices but not
sign official documents, because they can be challenged legally.
He however
says that it is only the President who can issue a special instrument allowing
them to work until he appoints a new cabinet.
He says what remains now is the office of the Attorney General
which is a constitutional office and the Minister of Finance, who is the
president.
President Museveni was sworn in on Wednesday at Kololo Independent Grounds for his sixth term.
Kafuuzi calls for legislation to address gap after expiry of ministers tenure (independent.co.ug)
Players within the education sector have suggested that
the government should first increase capitation grants before scrapping charges
levied on parents in institutions implementing universal education.
This followed
a pronouncement by President Yoweri Museveni, during his inaugural speech as he
starts a new term, that no school will be allowed to charge extra fees from the
parents. He said that although education is free, some children fail to access
it because of additional charges.
However, educationists have questioned the practicability
of the proposal to scrap the said fees yet the government has failed to
provide adequate money in capitation grants to cover school budget deficits
without the additional funding from parents
Issa Matovu, an educationist and former chairman of the National Conference on Primary Teachers’ Education, says that without addressing issues that led to the collection of the said fees, any decision to the contrary will worsen the quality of education across the country.
The Solicitor
General has advised the Ministry of Local Government to adjust the dates for
the swearing-in of newly elected local government leaders.
According to
the letter dated May 11th 2021 by Paul Okirig on behalf of Solicitor General
Francis Atoke, if the swearing-in takes place more than seven days effective
today it will be in contravention of section 169 of the Local Governments Act.
According to
the Local Government Act, an incoming executive committee shall, before taking
office, ensure that there is a formal handing over from the outgoing executive
committee within one week from the date of the expiry of the term of office of
the outgoing executive committee.”
Last week, the Permanent Secretary of Local Government Ministry Ben Kumumanya wrote ordering all Chief Administrative Officers and Town Clerks to arrange for swearing-in activities between 13th and 28th May 2021 to enable a smooth transition between the outgoing and the new Local Government council. He argued that the term of office of the current local council leaders across the country expires today May 12th 2021, which may delay swearing-in by even more than two weeks in some districts.
President Museveni has outlined a number of key issues that he thinks his
government will focus on in the next five years.
Speaking shortly after
being sworn in, Museveni said in the new term, social-economic transformation
of Ugandans will be top on the agenda, and this he said will be achieved
“aggressively and without compromise”, dealing with some obstacles
“In this term we will
ensure fighting corruption of government officials including magistrates and
the Policemen,” he said.
Speaking specifically about
social-economic transformation, Museveni said government will put more money in
wealth funds including the Operation Wealth Creation, youth and women fund and
Emyooga.
PARLIAMENT PASSES 20 BILLS IN TEN DAYS AS ITS TERM WINDS UP
The last ten days of the 10th Parliament have witnessed a marathon of both committee and plenary sittings, that have seen more than 20 bills passed.
However, some of the
business has been saved for the 11th Parliament according to the speaker Rebecca
Kadaga.
The five-year tenure for the 10th Parliament came to end on May 11 in order to pave way for the incoming legislators who will be sworn in starting Monday, May 17.
The other bills that have been passed are: the National Social Security Fund Amendment Bill 2019, the National Health Insurance Scheme Bill, the Estate of Missing Persons Bill 2019, the Administration of Estates Bill 2019 and the Inland Water Transport Bill 2020.
Some of the business that
has been saved for the 11th Parliament include; the Human Right Defenders
Protection Bill 2020, the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2019, the Local
Government Amendment Bill 2020 and the Labour Disputes Amendment Bill 2018
among others.
Parliament
passes 20 bills in ten days as its term winds up - Nile Post
WE
DON’T TORTURE PRISONERS, SAYS BYABASHAIJA
In the past, abuse
perpetrated by warders against prisoners has been common in jails around the
country.
According to the Uganda
Human Rights Commission (UHCR), there were 21 cases reported in 1997, but the
number had grown to 314 by 2008.
This led the UHCR and
Uganda Prisoners Aid Foundation (UPAF) to lobby intensely for proper respect of
prisoners’ rights.
On several occasions, the
opposition parties have accused prison services of torturing their supporters
while in their custody, something that has put the image of the prison at
stake.
Recently, there was report
of torture of the National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters who were
incarcerated at Kitalya government prison over various offences, an allegation
that was refuted by the Prisons.
The date for the election of the Speaker of the 11th parliament
and the deputy has been postponed to May 24, 2021 at Kololo independence
grounds.
After the 10th parliament, their counterparts in the
forthcoming parliament will convene in their first sitting set for May 24
according to a communication by the Principal Private Secretary to the
president, Dr.Kenneth Omona.
“This is to
inform you that the president has signed the proclamation for the first sitting
of the 11th parliament of the Republic of Uganda to be
held at Kololo ceremonial grounds on May 24, 2021, at 10am,” Omona’s
communication to the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga but also copied to
the Prime Minister and Clerk to Parliament reads in part.
The President of the
European Council Mr. Charles Michel has described President Museveni as a
resolute defender of pan-Africanism and regional integration and wished him
best wishes in his new term as President of the Republic of Uganda.
“On behalf of the European
Union, let me convey my best wishes for your new term as President of the
Republic of Uganda. Uganda and the EU have a longstanding partnership for peace
in the region and economic development, and we stand ready to further work
together, including on environmental protection and fighting climate change,’
he said in a letter issued from Brussels.
“You have been a resolute
defender of pan-Africanism and regional integration. The EU remains fully engaged
as regards the implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement with the
East African Community (EAC) and I hope the Agreement will be taken forward,
building on the conclusions of the recent EAC Summit,” he said.
President Michel said he
looks forward to working with President Museveni and his government as well as
the Ugandan civil society and private sector.
Comments
Post a Comment