HRCU WEEKLY UPDATES: ISSUE NO.41 OF 2021
THE HUMAN RIGHTS CENTER UGANDA (HRCU)
WEEKLY
UPDATE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND KEY EMERGING ISSUES WITH IN THE WORKING ENVIROMENT
OF HRDS IN UGANDA
THE
WEEK OF 25th TO 31st OCTOBER, 2021
Welcome to the month of November 2021!
It is
such a wonderful privilege to be alive today and to see ourselves advance with the
call and cause to promote and strive for the protection and realization of human
rights and fundamental freedoms at all levels of our lives.
As we
draw to the close of the year, it is time to reflect and recollect the achievements
gain so far and re-equip with necessary knowledge and abilities to enable us end
the year well.
Below
are some of the highlights from last week, beginning with an update on the situation
of COVID-19 in the country.
COVID19 UPDATES
Results of COVID-19 tests done on 29 October
2021 confirm 96 new cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are 126,171. The
breakdown of the new cases is: 95 Alerts And Contacts: Kabarole (15), Soroti
(12), Gulu (10), Oyam (9), Kampala (11), Kitgum (9), Mbarara (3), Gulu (3),
Moyo (2), Tororo (2), Apac (2), Adjumani (1), Namisindwa (1), Arua (1), Kabale
(1), Kyotera (1), Kiryandongo (1) Wakiso (9) Amuru (2) 1 Truck driver from Amuru.
Source: https://twitter.com/MinofHealthUG/
COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES ARE ILLEGAL –
HEALTH RIGHTS ACTIVISTS
Lawyers
and health rights activists are calling upon government to put a stop to the
illegal vaccine mandates that are being introduced at several organisations
across the country.
As
a means to stop the spread of Covid-19, some government offices like the
ministry of health, the National Medical Stores (NMS), local government offices
and even some private run facilities have restricted access to their premises
on the basis of Covid-19 vaccination. Persons who are not vaccinated can no
longer access these offices.
Source:
https://www.independent.co.ug/covid-19-vaccine-mandates-are-illegal-health-rights-activists/
THE DRIVE AGAINST COVID-19: UWEC TO VACCINATE
ANIMALS AGAINST COVID-19
The
Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC) is set to vaccinate all
chimpanzees and other animals at the Centre against Covid-19.
This
was revealed by the UWEC Executive Director, Mr. James Musinguzi, on Wednesday
during Zakayo's Day Celebrations held every October 27.
In
July, Ngamba Island chimpanzees were subjected to Covid-19 tests and all
results returned negative.
Source:
https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/uwec-to-vaccinate-animals-against-covid-19-3598804
DEPUTY SPEAKER DIRECTS MPS ON COVID-19
VACCINATION CARDS
The
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has notified Members of Parliament
that starting next week, they will be required to present Covid-19 vaccination
cards to attend sittings.
Among
made the statement during her communication to MPs during the Thursday
afternoon plenary sitting.
She
noted that legislators need to lead by example so that the citizens are
encouraged to take up the Covid-19 vaccines.
Source:
https://www.independent.co.ug/deputy-speaker-directs-mps-on-covid-19-vaccination-cards/
THE
RIGHT TO PRACTICE ONE’S PROFESSION: GOVT, MEDIA FIGHT AGAIN OVER PUSH TO
REGISTER JOURNALISTS
Government has renewed its push to have
journalists get accredited afresh by the Uganda Media Council as they go about
covering public events. The minister of Information, Communication, Technology
and National Guidance, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, said following the recent
Constitutional Court ruling, the Uganda Media Council has since asked
journalists to get accredited.
Dr Baryomunsi said since the call in August
to have journalists get registered afresh, only a handful have responded to the
government’s call.
The minister was speaking at a media
breakfast meeting in Kampala on Thursday 28th October 2021 with more
than 100 editors and media managers in attendance.
But one of the journalists’ lawyers, Mr.
Francis Gimara, scoffed at government’s demands to have journalists accredited
afresh as illegal.
He said the Media Council is still not yet fully constituted to carry out the
same mandate.
BOMB
SCARES AND THE CALL TO PROTECT LIFE: ONE PERSON DEAD AFTER SWIFT SAFARIS BUS EXPLOSION IN
MPIGI
There was an explosion on a bus
belonging to the Swift Safaris Limited at Lungala in Mpigi. Police confirmed one person is dead and
scores injured in the suspected bomb explosion on Masaka road. The
remaining 37 other passengers were safe plus the driver. The Police were
investigating whether the person blown up was the one carrying the bomb.
The incident involving the bus registration
number UAU 989T took place at around 5:20 pm on Monday 25th October
2021 as the bus was heading to Bushenyi.
Faridah Nampiima, the Traffic Police
Spokesperson said that among the injured is Kityo Mwanga, the Regional Police
Commander (RPC) for Greater Bushenyi. She says that they were yet to establish
what exploded.
Source
and details at: https://www.independent.co.ug/swift-bus-explosion-several-feared-injured-breakingnews/
ADF
BEHIND BOMB ATTACKS; COLLABORATORS ARRESTED, SAYS POLICE
Police linked the two separate bomb attacks in the
country to the Allied Democratic Forces rebels currently operating in the
volatile Eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A Saturday evening explosion at a pork eating joint
in Komamboga, a Kampala suburb left one person dead and three others injured.
On Monday evening, a similar explosion on a Swift
Safaris bus left one person dead and another injured at Lungala, along the
Kampala-Masaka highway.
Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga said remnants of
the bomb that exploded on Monday evening have given clues to security about the
people behind the attacks, noting that ADF is responsible for the attacks.
Source
and details: https://nilepost.co.ug/2021/10/26/adf-behind-bomb-attacks-collaborators-arrested-says-police/
Also
see:
Bomb
blast kills two children in Nakaseke: https://observer.ug/news/headlines/71689-bomb-blast-kills-two-children-in-nakaseke
Government
not targeting Muslims in fights against terrorism: https://observer.ug/news/headlines/71684-govt-not-targeting-muslims-in-fight-against-terrorism-museveni
THE FIGHT AGAINST IMPUNTY: SPEAK UP AGAINST
IMPUNITY, LOP TELLS ACHOLI
The
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LOP), Mathias Mpuuga challenged cultural
and religious leaders to speak up against human rights violations in the
country. This was said as Mpuuga started off his outreach programme on Friday,
22 October 2021, with meetings with religious leaders under the Acholi
Religious Leaders’ Peace Initiative (ARLPI) and the Ker KwaroAcoli (Acholi
Cultural Institution).
Mpuuga
spoke about the Opposition Legislative Agenda as he urged his audiences to pick
interest in the various laws being proposed by the government.
Source
and details at: https://www.independent.co.ug/speak-up-against-impunity-lop-tells-acholi/
BAIL DEBATE: IT'S CONSTITUTIONAL TO DENY
BAIL, OULANYAH TELLS OPPOSITION
The
Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah rejected requests by the opposition to
have the House intervene in the continued denial of bail to MPs Muhammad
Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana.
The
two are facing several charges, including murder, attempted murder, aiding, and
abetting terrorism. They were on Monday this week denied bail by Masaka High
court judge, Lawrence Tweyanze, saying that their release would jeopardize
investigations since they are currently under trial.
During
the Tuesday afternoon plenary sitting, Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju
Nganda raised a procedural issue in regard to the denial of bail to their two
colleagues.
He
asked the speaker for guidance given the ongoing circumstances. In response,
Oulanyah said that he used to practice law and he applied for bail several
times and it was denied.
For
details: https://observer.ug/news/headlines/71673-it-s-constitutional-to-deny-bail-oulanyah-tells-opposition-mps
LEGISLATION,
INHERITENCE AND THE RIGHT TO PROPERTY: SUCCESSION BILL: FEMINISTS FINALLY
AGREE WITH PRESIDENT MUSEVENI
Women activists
have conceded and agreed with President Museveni’s proposals in the Succession
Amendment Bill 2021 on sharing the deceased's estate.
Parliament in March 2021, passed the Succession Bill which seeks to ensure
equality and equity in the distribution of the deceased estates. The bill
repeals the succession law which is traced back to 1906. The bill's main
objective is to provide for the rights of women and also ensure equality
between the spouses in the distribution of property or estates of the deceased.
It among other things; makes it compulsory for testators to provide for
spouses, lineal descendants, and dependent relatives in their wills.
However, in August
this year, the President returned the bill for reconsideration stating that new
clauses be included because in current state it would most likely bring
disharmony between the surviving spouse and dependent relatives.
The president also added that the amendment would not only be unfair to the
dependent relatives but would create misunderstandings between the
surviving spouse and the dependent relative. The current law gives 50 per
cent of the estate to the widow or widower, 49 per cent of the estate to the
dependent relative and 1 per cent to the customary heir.
Now women
activists led by the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) said on
Thursday that they concede to the president's proposals. The women
organizations represented including LANDnet Uganda and Women Land Rights
Movement among others, appeared before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
Committee that is currently reconsidering the
bill and said they agreed with almost all the provisions in the bill.
Source
and more details at:
CONCLUDING NOTES AND TAKE-AWAYS FOR THE WEEK:
1.
COVID-19 is 'still’ real. Let’s do as much as
we can to protect against the deadly virus. Much as we note a steady reduction
in the number of new infections compared to the past, it is pertinent that we
continue to adhere to the standard operating procedures and avoid situations
that can easily expose us to the virus. As we all long to return to normal, let
us get vaccinated and meet the targeted number by the government. Vaccination
is free and safe. Different opinions and thoughts are held in this regard but
ultimately, it’s about individual responsibility.
2.
The scare of bomb blasts and the ensuing
threats, panic and anxiety is something worth giving full attention. Each of
has a role to play in terms of our personal safety and security by being
vigilant and reporting any suspicious materials or items to the authorities. We
ought to be each other’s keeper.
3.
We have always talked about the need to end
impunity and offer justice to all citizens. No one is above the law and we need
to always do what is right within the available laws. There is need to respect
rule of law and promote good governance at all material times.
4.
The discussion on the right to apply for bail
is also pertinent and therefore, human rights defenders shouldn’t keep silent
while some of the key principles of justice are getting bent. There ought to be
clear direction by the judiciary on matters of Constitutionalism and rule of
law.
5.
HRCU continues to appreciate the contribution
of all human rights defenders and more so, women human rights defenders for being
on the forefront of advocacy for better laws and policies that protect the interests
of women, the girl child and the family as an institution.
Wishing you a fruitful week and month.
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