HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE: ISSUE NO.23 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.23 of 2021 |The
Week of 14 June- June 20, 2021
President Yoweri Museveni on Friday 18th June 2021 ordered a
total lockdown in Uganda due to a surge in Covid-19 cases and the resultant
recent death
All cross-boundary and inter-district movement of public or private
transport was banned for 42 days. This is the second total nationwide lockdown since
the corona virus pandemic invaded the country.
The Human Rights Centre Uganda (HRCU) during these unprecedented days
wishes to encourage all human rights defenders across the country to adhere to
the Ministry of Health guidelines and presidential directives. As long as we
all put into practice the SoPs, we shall defeat this scourge
COVID-19
SITUATION IN UGANDA
Results of COVID-19 tests done on 19 June 2021 confirm 1,136 new cases.
The cumulative confirmed cases are 72,679. #STAYSAFEUG
The breakdown of the new cases are:
Mitooma (2) Adjumani (1) Mukono (1)
Oyam (1) Hoima (1) Kikuube (1) Masaka (1)
DRC IS UGANDA’S TOP TRADE
SURPLUS PARTNER – BOU
The Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC) was Uganda’s number one source of trade surplus in 2020
according to Bank of Uganda trade statistics, and road projects launched by
President Museveni and his DR Congo counterpart Felix Antoine Tshisekedi will
likely further boost Uganda’s trade with DRC.
Uganda earned $241
million in trade surplus from DRC in 2020, and $177 million estimated informal
trade exports that push the figure to $418 million trade earnings. This makes
DRC Uganda’s number one source of trade surplus.
Trade surplus refers to
the amount by which the value of a country’s exports exceeds the value of
imports.
Second to DRC is South Sudan. Uganda earned $276 million (trade surplus) from goods exported to the country, slightly above DRC formal trade earnings. The $80 million estimate of informal trade exports to South Sudan is almost half of DRC’s estimate.
DRC is Uganda's top trade surplus partner - BoU (independent.co.ug)
NEW TAX ON INTERNET TO TRAP VPN
USERS – GOV’T
The Ministry of Finance,
Planning and Economic Development says one of the main reasons as to why the
government introduced a 12 percent Excise duty on internet use was to trap
Ugandans who were evading OTT by using Virtual Private Networks (VPN).
The Over the Top Tax of
200 Shillings a day was introduced in 2018 amid protests from the public and
civil society, who argued that it was a violation of the right to information
and would limit the growth of IT-based communication. The tax mainly targeted
social media users who were accessing it through their mobile phones.
Three years later, the
tax has been scrapped with the government realizing less than a fifth of the
anticipated 248 billion Shillings in the first year of implementation. The
matter was worsened by the switching off of internet for social media use
during the general elections in January, as more Ugandans opted for VPNs.
Many have since
continued with it especially since it is the only way they can access the most
popular social site, Facebook, which remained blocked by the government to date.
The Director of Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Moses Kaggwa says the new tax and the removal of OTT followed public complaints that it was stifling communication, and therefore, the ministry thought the excise duty would make it easier for the internet users. But he also says OTT was unfair because users like students were suffering more than others, adding that the new measure will not hurt particular groups.
New tax on internet to trap VPN users - Gov't (independent.co.ug)
WE HAVE SECURED UGX 30BN FOR
NAMBOOLE RENOVATION – OBUA
Ministry of Education
and Sports has secured Shillings 30 billion for the renovation of Mandela
National stadium, Namboole.
This comes after the
World football governing body FIFA and the Confederation of African Football
(CAF) banned the stadium from hosting international games.
The State Minister for
Sports designate, Hamson Obua says the renovation works will start with effect
from the next financial year on 1st July 2021.
In May last year, the
Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Federation of International
Football Association (FIFA) disqualified Mandela National Stadium from hosting
the forthcoming 2022 world cup qualifiers, saying the facility is substandard.
PARLIAMENT REJECTS KABOYO
MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENT
The Parliament
Appointments Committee has declined to approve the appointment of Alice Kaboyo,
as Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister for Luwero
Triangle-Rwenzori region.
Kaboyo, a former State
House aide is among several ministers that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
appointed to serve in cabinet on 8th June.
Before these are sworn
in, the Constitution mandates parliament through its Appointments Committee to
scrutinize the appointed persons by the President into public offices.
Now while appearing
before the committee chaired by Deputy Speaker Anita Among on Wednesday, Kaboyo
failed to have her appointment approved.
According to sources,
the committee rejected her appointment basing on the June 2012 incident when
the Anti-Corruption Court convicted her, after she pleaded guilty to some of
the counts in the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) case.
Kaboyo who was then co-accused with three former Health
Ministers Jim Muhwezi, his deputies Mike Mukula and Dr. Alex Kamugisha was
sentenced to a fine of 20 million Shillings or an 8 year prison term. She chose
to pay the 20 million fine.
Represented by late lawyer Bob Kasango, Kaboyo pleaded guilty to two counts of abuse of office and writing documents in the name of the former Private Principal Presidential Secretary, Amelia Kyambadde.
Parliament rejects Kaboyo ministerial appointment (independent.co.ug)
DOREEN NYANJURA REAPPOINTED KAMPALA DEPUTY LORD MAYOR
Makerere University
councillor Doreen Nyanjura has been reappointed as Kampala City Deputy Lord
Mayor. Her name was presented to the council in its second sitting at City Hall
by Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago this morning.
Nyanjura was first appointed to the position last year to replace Sarah Kanyike who had been appointed State Minister in charge of the Elderly. Nyanjura is a graduate of Tourism from Makerere University, a member of the Makerere University Council and the Secretary for Investment of the Forum for Democratic Change-FDC party.
Nyanjura Doreen takes oath to represent and
serve in KCCA. Photo via @DoreenNyanjura
Doreen Nyanjura reappointed Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor (independent.co.ug)
KARAMOJA LEADERS WANT SECOND
DISARMAMENT PEACEFUL AND INCLUSIVE
Leaders from Karamoja
have called for an inclusive disarmament process where the UPDF should involve
elected and religious leaders, civil society and community leaders in order to
minimize cases of human rights abuses.
During the first
disarmament process that ushered in a window of peace for at least 10 years,
there were reports that the UPDF soldiers used inhumane methods including
torture that is illegal. Residents reported having been tortured by soldiers in
order to disclose where they kept the illegal guns. Some have allegedly
suffered permanent disabilities and deformities while others reportedly died
due to the alleged torture.
Speaking in an
interview, key local leaders noted that the UPDF should employ a peaceful
approach before and during the disarmament process, ensuring that human rights
are respected. Paul Lokol, the LC 5 chairperson of Nabilatuk district where
raids are currently increasing says that the disarmament process should involve
the local leaders, religious leaders, civil society and women.
Karamoja leaders want second disarmament peaceful and inclusive (independent.co.ug)
BANK OF UGANDA WARNS FINANCE
MINISTRY OVER HIGH DEBT LEVELS
The Central Bank has
challenged the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development against
the current high rates of borrowing, saying they are putting the country and
the economy at risk.
The national debt burden
is currently estimated at UGX 64 trillion as of December 2020, having risen 35%
from the previous year. According to the government plans and as reflected in
the next budget, the national debt stock will rise to 52% of the GDP by the end
of this year, which is above the cap Uganda and other East African countries
had agreed with the International Monetary Fund.
Experts say that when
the debt gets to a level that is more than half of the size of an economy,
especially for poor economies like Uganda, there is the risk that it will be
stressed paying back the loans. When the ceiling was hit, the government said
it was not a bad situation, since it was borrowing for infrastructure and not
consumption, a position increasingly supported by some civil society members.
Bank
of Uganda warns finance ministry over high debt levels (independent.co.ug)
Bank
of Uganda warns finance ministry over high debt levels (independent.co.ug)
NINE ORGANIZATIONS REQUEST TO
ADVISE ICC ON REPARATION OF LRA VICTIMS
Nine organizations have
written to the International Criminal Court-ICC seeking permission to advise
the court on the proper mode of paying reparations to the victims of the rebel
Lord’s Resistance Army-LRA war.
The organisations
responded to the request by the Trial Chamber IX on May 6th, 2021, for
proposals on the reparations of the victims shortly after sentencing Dominic
Ongwen, the former commander of LRA’s Siniya brigade to 25 years in jail for
committing 61 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Northern
Uganda between July 1st 2002 and December 31st 2005.
Martin Okwir, the ICC Outreach Coordinator said that the chambers invited experts, victim’s organizations and Civil Society Organizations among others with deeper knowledge on the victims’ situations to write and request the court to permit them to offer advice and opinions on how best the reparations should be conducted. According to Okwir, by the expiry of the deadline for the submission on June 7th, ICC had received requests from nine organizations in Northern Uganda.
Nine organizations request to advise ICC on reparation of LRA victims (independent.co.ug)
EDDY MUTWE, NUBIAN LI AND 16 OTHERS
GRANTED BAIL BY THE GENERAL COURT MARTIAL
The General
Court Martial in Makindye has released on bail supporters of the National Unity
Platform led by Buken Ali alias Nubian Li and Edward Ssebuwufu also known as
Eddie Mutwe.
The released
were the remaining supporters and close members of the NUP president Robert
Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine’s team that was arrested in Kalangala, in
December 2020.
In a
statement released on Monday afternoon, NUP confirmed that all their
The General
Court Martial chairperson, Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti said that the court listened to
submissions from both the applicant and respondents before coming up with the
decision to release them.
“This court
has deliberated on this application and rules as follows; applicants have spent
long on remand, in the result, this court finds merit in the application and
hereby grants bail to the applicants,” Lt Gen Gutti said in his ruling.
The army court boss however set tough limits for their bail, saying that the group should not move beyond Wakiso and Kampala districts without first seeking permission from court.
Eddy Mutwe, Nubian Li and 16 others granted bail by the General Court Martial - Nile Post
UGANDA PRISONS SUSPENDS VISITS TO INMATES OVER
COVID
The Uganda
Prisons Service has suspended the routine visits to inmates by members of the
public in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in its detention
centres around the country.
Addressing
journalists on Monday, the Prisons spokesperson, Frank Baine said the
Commissioner General of Prisons , Dr. Johnson Byabashaija has issued a circular
to all commanders to ensure no person is allowed to visit inmates.
“All
visitations to prisons are suspended regardless of vaccination status or
testing status. Those who want to visit should hold on for 42 days,”Baine said
.
In the past
those who have already been vaccinated for Coronavirus were being allowed to
access prisons and inmates whereas those not vaccinated were required to
present negative covid test results
However,
according to the Prisons spokesperson, this has been reversed to ensure not one
is allowed inside the prisons.
Uganda
Prisons suspends visits to inmates over Covid - Nile Post
SECURITY RAID HOME, RE-ARREST KAWEESI
MURDER SUSPECT SHEIKH NYANZI
Operatives
believed to be from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) yesterday
Wednesday raided the home of Sheikh Yusuf Nyanzi, one of the suspects in the
2017 murder of former police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi.
Kaweesi, his
bodyguards Kenneth Erau and driver, Godfrey Mambewa were gunned down on March
17, 2017, a few kilometres from his home in Kisaasi, a Kampala suburb. This
week operatives raided and searched Nyanzi’s home in Kyanja, Kisaasi in Nakawa Division.
Nyanzi had been arrested earlier on Tuesday morning for unknown reasons.
Nyanzi has been
out on bail following his release on September 11, 2019, by the then
International Crimes Division judge, Lydia Mugambe.
Nyanzi was first
arrested in 2017 for the alleged assassination of Kaweesi, bodyguard Erau and
driver Mambewa. Earlier, he was also charged with the similar style murder of
Major Muhammad Kiggundu and his bodyguard Sgt. Steven Mukasa on November 26,
2016.
Nyanzi spent
several months on remand until he applied for bail through his lawyers from
Wameli and Company Advocates, which was granted after numerous applications.
Nyanzi has been a free man until his re-arrest on Tuesday morning. His wife,
Sumaya Nyanzi, says that unidentified security operatives picked up her husband
and 16-year-old son, Abdul Rahim Yusuf Nyanzi in front of their home at around
9 am on Tuesday.
CONCLUSION
The Human Rights Centre Uganda (HRCU) wishes all Human Rights Defenders fruitful commemorations of the International Day in Support of Torture Victims that is marked every 26th June. HRCU being a member of the Coalition Against Torture (CAT) Uganda has been involved in the preparations of this day but due to covid-19 guidelines, most of the activities will be conducted remotely online but never the less, as an organization, we condemn all forms of torture and encourage respect for human rights regardless of the issue at hand.
Thank you Ambrose and Human rights centre for the continuous weekly updates you provide to hrds. It refreshes our minds about what transpired during the week.
ReplyDeleteNice day
Joviah