HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE: ISSUE NO.44 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
WEEK OF THE 15TH TO 21ST
NOVEMBER 2021
Welcome
to the fourth week of November 2021! We are grateful that you have walked the
year’s journey with us and as we look forward to the last month next week, we
are here to assure you that your work of human rights defending is not in vain.
You have a reward, already.
In
that past week, Uganda experienced a
hard situation and occurrence on Tuesday 16th November 2021 at
around 10:00 am when two bombs exploded in the capital Kampala that claimed lives of six people and injured33
https://observer.ug/news/headlines/71871-6-killed-33-others-injured-in-kampala-twin-bombings
The
authorities such as Uganda Police Force have since shared information with the
Public to the effect that the situation was under control and that in case of
any information and reporting of suspicious elements, one had to contact Uganda
Police Information Resource Centre via the contacts 0414233814; 0414250613; emergency
number 999/112.
Below
is a continuation of the updates from the week of 15th to 21st
November 2021:
COVID19 UPDATES
Results
of COVID-19 tests done on 19 November 2021 confirm 49 new cases. The cumulative
confirmed cases are 127,177.
The
breakdown of the new cases are: 49 Alerts And Contacts: Oyam (8), Gulu (6),
Kampala (12), Moyo (3), Wakiso (3), Pallisa (2), Arua (2), Mbale (3), Agago
(1), Rakai (1), Kitgum (1), Kabale (1), Tororo (1), Napak (1), Mbarara (1),
Bududa (1) Amuru(1), Kyotera (1)
MORE
COVID19 VACCINES: CANADA DONATES TO UGANDA 1.9M DOSES OF MODERNA COVID-19
VACCINES
Uganda through the Ministry of Health received
1,904,140 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, donated by Canada according to
a press release by UNICEF.
Uganda is targeting
the vaccination of nearly half of its population (about 22 million people), in
a phased manner. Currently, the eligible population comprises individuals of 18
years and above. According to Ministry of Health, Uganda has vaccinated
3.9 million people. Deaths stand at 3,237 as of November 11, 2021.
COVID-19COVID-19Source: https://www.observer.ug/news/headlines/71860-canada-donates-to-uganda-1-9m-doses-of-moderna-COVID-19-vaccines
UGANDA
SET TO VACCINATE ENTIRE ADULT POPULATION AGAINST COVID-19
Uganda is aiming at vaccinating the entire
adult population against COVID-19 ahead of the full reopening of the country’s
economy early next year.
In a televised address about the country’s COVID-19
situation, President Yoweri Museveni said his government had expanded its
target population for COVID-19 vaccination from the original priority groups
such as health workers to all adults.
The move came after the country has stocked
up more vaccines, Museveni said, adding the government is going to study COVID-19
vaccination for children.
Source:
https://www.independent.co.ug/uganda-set-to-vaccinate-entire-adult-population-against-COVID-19/
HEALTH
MINISTRY TO BLOCK UNVACCINATED MEDICS FROM ACCESSING HOSPITALS
Health workers who have not been vaccinated
against COVID-19 will be denied access to hospitals. This comes at a time when
health workers are hesitant to get vaccinated. According to the health
ministry’s plan, by now, at least 150,000 health workers should have been fully
vaccinated.
According to records from the Ministry of
Health, less than 50 percent of all health workers are fully vaccinated and
less than 70 percent have received at least one dose of any vaccine.
Dr. Henry Mwebesa, the Director-General of
Health Services at the Ministry of Health says unvaccinated health workers are
a threat to both patients and their families.
Source:
https://www.independent.co.ug/health-ministry-to-block-unvaccinated-medics-from-accessing-hospitals/
COVID19
TREATMENT: PFIZER TO LET POORER NATIONS
MAKE NEW COVID PILL
US drug company
Pfizer penned a deal to allow its experimental COVID-19 treatment pill to be
made and sold in 95 developing nations. The deal with the UN-backed Medicines
Patent Pool not-for-profit could make the treatment available to 53% of the
world’s population
Pfizer said that
the pill lessens the risk of severe disease in vulnerable adults.
Most of the
countries included are in Africa or Asia. However, nations like Brazil, China,
Russia, Argentina and Thailand, which have experienced major outbreaks, are not
part of the deal.
UGANDANS
COULD PAY UP TO SHS.1M TO BE VACCINATED NEXT YEAR AS GOV’T HITS TARGET
Kampala Resident City
Commissioner Hudu Hussein said that there will be no free COVID-19 vaccination
effective January 2022. The RCC warned that those who will not be vaccinated by
then might be forced to pay up to shs.1million.
Last week, the
Health Ministry revealed that the country had so far vaccinated 4.8 million
people, which was initially a target for fully reopening the economy.
HUMAN
RIGHTS AND KEY EMERGING ISSUES
KAMPALA TWIN BOMBINGS: 6 KILLED, 33 OTHERS
INJURED IN KAMPALA TWIN BOMBINGS
6 people were
killed and 33 others injured in the twin bombings carried on 16th
November 2021 in Kampala central business district.
The dead included
the 3 suicide bombers and 3 civilians whose identities police declined to
reveal. According to police spokesperson Fred Enanga the attacks were
carried out by 3 suicide bombers (also killed) - one at the Kampala Central
Police Station (CPS) and two other suicide bombers riding on a motorcycle along
Parliamentary Avenue.
The first explosion
occurred at 10.03 am at CPS which left two civilians dead followed by another
explosion at 10.06 am on Parliamentary Avenue which killed one civilian and two
suicide bombers. The attacks come 22 days after the last suicide bomb attack on
a Swift Safaris Bus in Mpigi.
Source and details: https://observer.ug/news/headlines/71871-6-killed-33-others-injured-in-kampala-twin-bombings
FIGHTING
VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN: IGP ORDERS
FOR INVESTIGATION OF CHILD ABUSE VIDEOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
The Inspector General of Police Martin Okoth
Ochola has noted with concern the increasing incidences of aggravated
torture and abuse of children in the country. This came after videos of
children being violently abused went viral on social media.
IGP Ochola directed the Child and Family
Protection Unit in the Police to investigate all these videos and ensure that
cases of torture and abuses against children are stopped.
Fred Enanga, the Police Spokesperson informed
journalists during weekly media briefing in Kampala that at least 33
cases of aggravated torture and abuses of children in the videos have been
registered in Kampala Metropolitan area.
According to Enanga most of the suspects
involved in these criminal acts are parents, guardians and caretakers.
LEGISLATION AND THE RIGHT TO OWN PROPERTY: MAYANJA:
LAND BILL IS BACK
The long-shelved
Constitutional Land Amendment Bill, which drew plenty of controversy and
outrage at its first introduction in 2016, is making its way back to Parliament,
Sam Mayanja, the Minister of State for Lands, said.
In 2018, Deputy
Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana withdrew the hotly contested Constitutional
Amendment Land Bill that sought to allow compulsory acquisition of private land
for infrastructural development.
The Bill, which was
tabled in Parliament in 2016, drew harsh criticism from opposition politicians,
and civil society leaders. They claimed the government wanted to use the law to
deprive people of their constitutional right to own property.
For details please
visit: https://observer.ug/news/headlines/71874-mayanja-land-bill-is-back
A CALL
FOR THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF MINORITY RIGHTS: BATWA CRY OUT
In early 2022, Uganda will be evaluated by the UN Human Rights Council
on its human rights record; including its handling of the country’s indigenous
minority groups. In a similar assessment in 2016, the government committed to
give them better health and education services.
But when the London-based human rights organisation, Minority
Rights Group International, recently took a group of journalists to Bwindi in
the South-Western district of Kanungu where a sizable number of the Batwa live,
it was clear little has been done to improve their lives
It was in 1991 when the government evicted the Batwa
from the South Western tropical rain forests of Mgahinga, Bwindi and Echuya.
The community which had lived in these forests for centuries suddenly
found itself landless. The government converted the forests into national parks
to conserve the iconic Mountain Gorillas.
Lack of land remains a big challenge for the Batwa.
Source and details: https://www.independent.co.ug/batwa-cry-out/
CONCLUDING NOTES/ANALYSIS
- We are happy as a nation to be receiving more COVID-19 vaccines and to see that there is positive turn up by citizens to get vaccinated. Our call is to everyone who is still thinking twice to settle their minds and get vaccinated for this has double effects of not only strengthening one’s immunity but also avoiding future challenges posed by failure to get vaccinated. Different people including some human rights defenders have different views and opinions about vaccination but at the end of it all, the fight against COVID-19 must be won by you and me.
- Acts of terrorism are highly condemned as they abuse the doctrines of human rights and national security. As the country’s leadership continues to devise strategies to protect and defend the citizenry, let’s continue to be as vigilant as possible. Security and safety begins with us. Let’s take advantage of the Police and Security help lines to report any suspicious materials or persons in our spaces.
- Article 37 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995 (as amended) protects the rights of minorities and therefore it is important to note with concern the needs of Batwa group. Government can closely work with the already established minority rights organisations especially those in the Batwa communities like the Action for Batwa Empowerment Group and African International Christian Ministry (AICM) https://www.humanitarianplatformuganda.org/business-directory/820/african-international-christian-ministry-aicm/ to address the challenges like land, poverty, and also establish special livelihood Programmes like wealth creation, boost agricultural activities to improve on the livelihood of the Batwa so that they don’t feel as not to belong to Uganda.
- The Right to property is protected under Article 26 of the Constitution. It should be noted that persons, communities whose land is to be compulsorily acquired by government are subject of this proposed law that seeks to amend the Land Acquisition Act of 1965. However, compulsory acquisition of land by government should be for public use or public interest hence principles of the law, human rights must be observed. Aspects like forceful evictions, land grabbing should be done away with defeat people’s rights and fundamental freedoms..
- Children in Uganda are protected under Article 34 of the Constitution and also under the Children (Amendment) Act, 2016 It is our joint responsibility as parents, guardians, citizens to speak out against abuses and violation of children’s rights well knowing that they are the future and specifically, future human rights defenders.
THANK YOU for
reading this edition. Your comments and feedback are highly appreciated.
The bomb blasts were a big shock to the nation. We appreciate the forces that calmed the situation.
ReplyDeleteFor covid, God,as usual, will prevail.
Thank you Robert for the continued effort to inform us