HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE: ISSUE NO.43 OF 2021
THE HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE UGANDA (HRCU)
WEEKLY
UPDATE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND KEY EMERGING ISSUES WITHIN THE WORKING ENVIROMENT
OF HRDS IN UGANDA
THE
WEEK OF 8TH TO 14TH NOVEMBER 2021
We get into the middle of the month
of November! Well done in all. Last week ended with some key updates that HRCU
wishes to share with you. For instance, we learnt of the passing of the Head teacher
of Kings College Budo, Patrick Bakka Male https://www.independent.co.ug/kings-college-budo-headteacher-patrick-bakka-has-died/ who
was a key HRD working on promoting the right to education, the President’s open
warning to Members of Parliament intending to investigate Dr. Musenero the
Science and Technology Minister on allegations of corruption and embezzlement of Shs.31billion Covid-19 funds https://observer.ug/news/headlines/71827-covid-funds-museveni-warns-mps-to-back-off-dr-musenero;
39 passengers ho survived the deadly bus fire in Mpigi https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/video-39-passengers-survive-mpigi-bus-fire-3613074
As we go into the details and more
stories, allow us start with the COVID19 updates:
COVID19
UPDATES
Results of COVID-19 tests done on 14 November 2021 confirm 37
new cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are 127,002. The breakdown of
the new cases is: 37 Alerts And Contacts: Oyam (10), Kalungu (8), Kitgum (4),
Kabarole (2), Wakiso (2), Kiryandongo (2), Adjumani (1), Kampala (8)
Source:https://twitter.com/MinofHealthUG
COVID-19 FUNDS: PARLIAMENT NAMES SELECT COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE DR. MUSENERO
The Deputy Speaker OF Parliament Anita
Among named a select committee of Parliament to investigate the Minister of
Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Monica Musenero over the alleged misuse
of shs.31billion meant for Covid-19 vaccine development.
Among named the committee during a
plenary sitting on Wednesday, 10 November 2021.
“The
list of the select committee developed in the Speaker’s Office under rule 190
of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament will have Xavier Kyooma as a chairman,” Among said.
Speaker Anita Among has named the
members of the Select committee to investigate the allegations against Dr
Musenero on the use of shs31 billion that is meant for Covid-19 vaccine
development
Source: https://www.independent.co.ug/parliament-names-select-committee-to-investigate-dr-musenero/
MORE
COVID-19 VACCINE DONATIONS: US DONATES
3.4MILLION MORE PFIZER VACCINES TO UGANDA
The United
States of America donated more 3.4million Covid-19 vaccine doses to Uganda. The
latest batch of Pfizer vaccines now brings the total number of doses that the
American government has donated to Uganda to 5.8 million.
US Ambassador to Uganda, Ms Natalie E Brown (centre) poses with health officials as she handed over a consignment of Pfizer vaccines donated by the US to Uganda. PHOTO/COURTESY
THE VACCINATION DRIVE: GOVT ORDERS
VARSITIES TO SET UP VACCINATION CENTRES
The
Ministry of Health ordered vice chancellors of all public universities to
establish vaccination points within their campuses for learners’ easy access.
Dr. Henry
Mwebesa, the Director General of Health services, in a November 5 letter, asked
vice chancellors to work with district health officers to implement this in a
move to complete vaccination of all targeted students.
A health
worker administers a Covid-19 jab to a man at the Ministry of Health headquarters
in Kampala in June 2021. PHOTO/FILE
COVID-19 TREATMENT: EU DRUG AGENCY
RECOMMENDS 2 ANTI-COVID-19 MEDICINES
The
European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended the authorization of two medicines
for the treatment of COVID-19. These are Ronapreve made by the
Switzerland-based pharmaceutical company Roche, and Regkirona made by South
Korean drug company Celltrion, the agency said in a statement on Thursday.
According
to the Agency, Ronapreve can be used for treating COVID-19 in adults and
adolescents (from 12 years of age and weighing at least 40 kilograms) who do
not require supplemental oxygen and who are at increased risk of their disease
becoming severe.
Regkirona
can be used for treating adults with COVID-19 who do not require supplemental
oxygen and who are also at increased risk of their disease becoming severel
Source: https://www.independent.co.ug/eu-drug-agency-recommends-2-anti-covid-19-medicines/
THE
ONGOING DEBATE ON BAIL: KATUREEBE
CAUTIONS MUSEVENI ON SCRAPPING BAIL
Former
Chief Justice, Bart Katureebe, urged President Museveni to rethink his position
on the proposal to scrap bail for suspected capital offenders.
Recently,
Museveni expressed his determination to scrap bail for suspected capital
offenders and reinstate the mandatory death penalty.
However,
legal experts and human rights activists have on several times dismissed
Museveni’s push to scrap court bail for suspected capital offenders and renew
the mandatory death penalty for convicted murders.
Bart Katureebe (Left)
Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/2021/11/08/katureebe-cautions-museveni-on-scrapping-bail/
ENFORCING COURT ORDERS: ATTORNEY
GENERAL KIRYOWA TELLS POLICE TO OBEY COURT ORDERS
The Attorney General advised the
police to stop ignoring court orders, which he described as the heart of all
judicial systems. In a letter to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Martins
Okoth-Ochola, the Attorney General, Mr. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, said the police chief
should direct his officers to comply with all court directives so as not to
destroy the authority of the judicial orders.
Mr. Kiwanuka said the Uganda Court
Bailiffs’ Association wrote to him that police have refused to direct their
officers to witness execution of court orders, which has affected the delivery of
justice.
Attorney
General Kiryowa Kiwanuka said there is need for a balance between
one’s rights and the safety of others
Source and details: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/attorney-general-kiryowa-tells-police-to-obey-court-orders-3617110
THE
RIGHT TO EDUCATION: UGANDA SCHOOL SYSTEM TO LOSE 30% OF LEARNERS
The National Planning Authority (NPA)
has projected that over 30 per cent out of the 15 million learners that were in
schools before the COVID-19 pandemic hit Uganda are likely not to return to
school. The percentage translates into 4.5 million learners across the
different education levels.
According to the NPA report titled; Towards the Safe Re-opening of the Education
Sector in COVID-19 Time; the trend can be attributed to poverty, teenage
pregnancies, early marriages, and child labour among other factors.
The report highlights that as the
impacts of the recession triggered by COVID-19 hit families, many children may
be forced out of school, into labour markets. Girls are likely to be much more
affected than boys, with many forced into early marriage.
FILE PHOTO: Many students and teachers unlikely to return to school
Source: https://www.independent.co.ug/uganda-school-system-to-lose-30-of-learners/
THE
RIGHT TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION: MALENDE
SAYS SHE IS UNDER PRESSURE TO ABANDON SSEGIRINYA, SSEWANYANA CASE
Defense
lawyer Shamim Malende on Wednesday 11th November 2021, told
court that she was under pressure to abandon a case in which she represents two
opposition lawmakers, Allan Ssewanyana and Muhammad Ssegirinya.
Appearing
before Masaka grade one magistrate Grace Wakoli, during the further mentioning
of a multiplicity of charges against the pair, Ms. Malende said she ‘‘is
receiving messages from unknown people pressurizing and ordering her to drop
her representation in the matter.’’
State
prosecutor Mr Richard Birivumbuka (L) interacts with the
defense counsel in the case, Shamim Malende. PHOTO/MALIK FAHAD JJINGO
Source
and Details: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/malende-says-under-pressure-to-abandon-ssegirinya-ssewanyana-case-3614238
THREATS
TO NATIONAL SECURITY AND RIGHT TO LIFE: BOMB BLAST KILLS ONE, INJURES 4 OTHERS
IN NAKASEKE
A bomb explosion killed one person
and injured four others critically in Kapeeka trading center, Nakaseke
district. The incident occurred at about 9:00 am on Thursday 11th
November 2021.
Moses Ssenfuma, the LC III
chairperson of Kapeeka sub-county, said that the blast was believed to have
occurred after the victims picked the explosive from an unknown place and
started crushing it for scrap metal.
Residents at the scene of blast
Source and details:https://observer.ug/news/headlines/71828-bomb-blast-kills-one-and-injures-4-others-in-nakaseke
QUICK
COMMENTS:
1. The reception of more 3.4million
COVID-19 vaccines and the discovery of COVID19 treatment medicine in Europe is
an enormous step in the fight against the pandemic and we should therefore
embrace the vaccination and also continue to observe the outlined standards
procedures of washing hands, social distancing and always wearing a face mask
while in public. Recovery from this pandemic starts with you and me.
2. As the debate on bail continues, it
is important to consider what the law requires (Article 23), matters of human
rights are inalienable and should not be based on emotions or what one believes
to be true. They ought to realistic and legally backed.
3. Enforcing court orders has been a
key challenge to the protection and promotion of human rights and access to justice
in the country. The by the Attorney General goes not only to the duty bearers
but all those involved in seeking and advocating for the right to fair hearing
and access to justice.
4. Article 30 of the Constitution of
the Republic of Ugandan provides for the right to education. It is important therefore
to critically assess the impact of COVID19 on learners and outline long term
and sustainable solutions on how we can keep these learners in school. This is
a call to government and the focal CSOs, individual groups promoting the Right
to Education.
5. The right to legal representation is
a fundamental human right under Article28, therefore we should aim at
protecting it and acts of threatening lawyers representing suspects are highly
condemned since they undercut the Judicial system and the working environment
for these HRDs.
6. Bomb attacks have continued to be
reported therefore we shouldn’t yet stop being vigilant and suspicious
especially that the festive season nears and also the end of the year. Please
consider having telephone numbers of your local police, local leaders and the
head of security.
May
the remaining days of the week be as yielding and fruitful.
Comments
Post a Comment