HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE: ISSUE NO.02 OF 2022
WEEKLY UPDATE ON COVID-19 AND KEY EMERGING
HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES WITHIN THE WORKING ENVIROMENT OF HRDS IN UGANDA
THE WEEK OF TO 17TH TO 23RD JANUARY
2022
Dear Human Rights Defender and HRCU Partner,
Greetings!
Hoping that you and your Team(s) are well and keeping safe.
Welcome
to the last week of January 2022! Next week shall usher us into February! The
question is: “what have we accomplished in January?”
In
this update, HRCU shares with you some of the stories from last week (17th
to 23rd January, 2022) and continues to monitor the context in which
human rights defenders operate.
There
was talk about eviction of street vendors from Kampala city http://nilepost.co.ug/2022/01/23/eviction-of-street-vendors-leaves-traders-in-city-arcades-in-tears/;
sky-rocketing fuel prices that many thought would have subsided by mid-week https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/outcry-as-uganda-fuel-crisis-escalates-3686958.
We also saw owners of Bars and Entertainment centers preparing for re-opening after
almost two years of “lockdown.” However, revelers shall have to show proof of
COVID-19 vaccination to attend concerts. https://www.independent.co.ug/revellers-will-need-proof-of-covid-19-vaccination-to-attend-concerts/
We are
mindful that this Wednesday 26th January 2022 shall be a public holiday
as we commemorate Liberation day: https://publicholidays.africa/uganda/nrm-liberation-day/.
On
Sunday 23rd January 2022, we all woke up to the saddening news of
the passing away of Bank of Uganda long term governor Emmanuel Mutebile https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/bank-of-uganda-governor-emmanuel-tumusiime-mutebile-dies-in-nairobi-3691090 . May
his soul rest in everlasting peace and may his family, relatives, friends and
the country at large find comfort and strength for each new day to come.
COVID-19 RELATED
UPDATES
Results of COVID-19 tests done on 21 January 2022
confirm 206 new cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are 160,352. The
breakdown of the new cases is: 201 Alerts and Contacts: Kampala (69), Wakiso
(61), Nabilatuku (11), Mbarara (11), Nakasongola (7), Kapchorwa (6), Kyotera
(9), Gulu (5), Nakapiripirit (2), Namisindwa (1), Kikuube (1), Yumbe (1),
Kwania (1), Bunyangabu (1), Bududa (1) Tororo (3), Hoima (1), Wakiso
(1), Moroto (1), Kayunga (1), Kalungu (1) Mukono (2), Amuru (2), Busia
(1), Kisoro (1), 05 Truck drivers from Mityana.
COVID19 OMICRON VARIANT: UGANDA'S OMICRON
CASES TO DROP BY JANUARY 22
If
official National Planning Authority (NPA) projections hold true, the Omicron
variant daily and weekly cases are expected to drop at the end of January after
the weekly average for confirmed cases hit the highest recorded level.
According to NPA’s weekly Covid-19 case projections issued on January 10,
hospitalizations remained low despite the meteoric rise in cases.
Source: https://observer.ug/news/headlines/72496-uganda-s-omicron-cases-to-drop-by-january-22
COVID19 VACCINATION DRIVE: GOVT TARGETS TO VACCINATE 4 MILLION PEOPLE IN NEW CAMPAIGN
The
Ministry of Health is set to resume the accelerated Covid-19 vaccination campaign
to ramp up uptake of vaccines. Through the campaign, the ministry is targeting
to vaccinate four million Ugandans in one week.
The
campaign, first launched in November last year, seeks to mobilise Ugandans aged
18 and above to embrace vaccination, as well as dispelling myths surrounding
the vaccines.
The
ministry spokesperson, Mr. Emmanuel Ainebyoona, told Sunday Monitor on Friday 21st
January 2022 that the campaign had been paused as the ministry resources were
re-focused to the polio mass vaccination drive that kicked off last week.
Vaccination will give you a fighting chance against
Covid-19. PHOTO | COURTESY
Source
and details: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-targets-to-vaccinate-4-million-people-in-new-campaign-3690902
BODA BODA RESTRICTIONS: GOVERNMENT URGED TO REMOVE
CURFEW FOR BODA BODAS
E-Trade Association, an
umbrella organization that converges companies and organizations that use the
power of the internet to create jobs in Uganda has urged the government to ease
COVID-19 restrictions on bodabodas and allow them to operate beyond 7pm. The
association said the move will ease transportation mobility for Ugandans.
Blessing Owomugisha, the
acting Secretary General Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry said
that the boda-boda sub-sector/ industry employs over 1.2 million people. It is
the second largest employer in Uganda after agriculture and it provides a
livelihood for close to seven million citizens who would otherwise be engaged
in illegal and illicit activities and that it is also largely considered as one
of the cheapest and most effective modes of transport that facilitates business
engagement.”
E-Trade
members addressing the press on January 17, 2022
Source and details: https://www.independent.co.ug/government-urged-to-remove-curfew-for-boda-bodas/
COVID19 VACCINATION: REVELLERS WILL NEED PROOF OF
COVID-19 VACCINATION TO ATTEND CONCERTS
Persons who are not
vaccinated against COVID-19, will not be allowed to attend musical shows and
concerts when the entertainment industry reopens. . on January 24, 2022,
exactly 14 days after the reopening of schools, in line with guidelines issued
by President Museveni at the beginning of the year. This is the first time that
cinemas, bars, and recreation centres will be allowed to operate since March
2020, when Uganda announced its first lockdown as a measure to keep coronavirus
disease at bay.
It is against this
background that the Uganda National Cultural Centre-UNCC, the Ministry of Gender
and the Ministry of Health have listed do’s and don’ts for the sector that
usually attracts several revellers, often in a frenzy mood characterized by
great excitement or wild behavior.
Ugandan
artist Fik Fameica performs on a music concert. Revellers will be required to
present proof of Covid-19 vaccination to attend musical shows and
concerts. File Photo
Source: https://www.independent.co.ug/revellers-will-need-proof-of-covid-19-vaccination-to-attend-concerts/
KEY EMERGING HUMAN ISSUES:
STATE
OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN UGANDA: PRESIDENT DEFENDS UGANDA’S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD, “WE
ARE SEASONED PEOPLE,”
President Yoweri Museveni strongly defended Uganda’s
human rights record and said for the last 60 years, their struggle has been
about promoting and defending human rights. The President was meeting
Britain’s Minister for Africa, Ford Vicky at State House in Entebbe. The two
leaders discussed various issues including trade, investments, human rights,
regional peace and security among other things.
The President however acknowledged that they are
still dealing with a precapitalist society where some people still have
traditional ideas like beating people.
Museveni meets UK’s Minister for Africa, Ford Vicky. Image: PPU
THE RIGHT TO LEGAL
REPRESENTAION: LAWYER ‘FRUSTRATED’ OVER DENIED ACCESS TO TERROR SUSPECTS BY
PRISONS
A lawyer representing 15 people charged
with terrorism and aiding and abetting terrorism following the recent bomb
blasts in Uganda told court that “they are being frustrated by prisons
officials when they go to receive instructions from their clients. Mr.
Geoffrey Turyamusiima told a Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate’s session on
Friday that as
defense advocates, they are made to go
through several conditions and even when fulfilled, they are told to first return to the prisons
headquarters which of course is illegal,”.
Some of the terror suspects in court recently.
PHOTO/COURTESY/URN
FREEDOM FROM TORTURE: PRISONS
MEDICAL REPORT REVEALS KAKWENZA WAS TORTURED
A Prisons medical
report said novelist Kwakenza Rukirabashaija had torture marks before he was
brought into custody. The writer is on
remand at Kitalya prison on charges of using social media to make abusive,
derogatory and belittling tweets against First Son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba,
and President Museveni.
According to a report
signed by Dr James Kisambu on behalf of the Commissioner General of Prisons,
The medical re-examination was requested for on January 13 and carried out on
January 14 at Kitalya Mini Max Prison. The report revealed that the 33-year-old
male prisoner remanded at Kitalya had
healing scars of wounds sustained before being remanded to prison.
The report came barely
two days after the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) staff visited Mr.
Kakwenza in prison and thereafter, tweeted about his condition.
Novelist Kakwenza
Rukirabashaija. PHOTO/FILE
Source and details
please visit: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/prisons-medical-report-reveals-kakwenza-was-tortured-3689114
REVIVING THE UGANDA HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL: FATHER LOKODO TO CHAIR HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL
- TO HEAR 123 CASES
After
two years of inactivity, the Uganda Human Rights Tribunal is finally back
to work and it will hear a total of 123 cases in a space of one month during
sessions that started on the 17th of January 2022 and will be concluded on
24th February 2022.
The
tribunal, has not been sitting for two years because it was not fully
constituted following the death of of its then Chairperson Med Ssozi
Kaggwa in November 2019. According to Uganda Human Rights Commission
Director of Complaints, Investigation and Legal Services, Ida Nakiganda,
the month-long hearings will be held at Uganda Human rights regional offices in
Fort Portal and Arua.
The
Tribunal was fully reconstituted after President Yoweri
Museveni appointed Ms. Mariam Wangadya as the chairperson of Uganda Human
Rights Commission and four other Commissioners in August last year.
Rev.
Fr. Simon Lokodo. Courtesy Photo
SHOT TRAFFIC OFFICER: TRAFFIC OFFICER
SHOT BY CMI CORPORAL NOW IN ICU AFTER LOSING LEG
Police Constable
Robert Mukebezi who was shot on Saturday 15th January 2022 by an
army officer in Kampala was admitted in the intensive care unit (ICU) at UMC
Victoria hospital after his leg got amputated.
Mukebezi was
allegedly shot while on duty by an un-uniformed Uganda People's Defense Forces
(UPDF) officer, Corporal Babangida Bashir Mango attached to the Chieftaincy of
Military Intelligence (CMI) headquarters in Mbuya. He was shot as he attempted
to tow a military vehicle, registration number H4DF 1391 that had veered off
the road and rammed into a signpost at Kobil petrol station along
Ntinda-Kiwatule road.
Mukebezi being wheeled into
ICU
Source and details: https://observer.ug/news/headlines/72501-traffic-officer-shot-by-cmi-corporal-loses-leg
KEY TAKE-AWAYS OF/FOR THE WEEK
- As the cases of the new Covid-19 omicron variant are reported to drop, and with the full reopening of other sectors of the economy on 24th January 2022, we need to note that COVID-19 is still with us and hence the set standard operating procedures need to be adhered to at all times Even after several other restrictions are lifted, we urge all HRDs and the general public to continue wearing face masks, frequently washing hands or sanitizing and maintaining a social distance when interacting with anyone.
- In relation to the President’s comments about Uganda’s human rights record and as Uganda and other countries prepare for review at the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva on 27th January, 2022 https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/UGindex.aspx, we can continue advocating for a better environment for the promotion, protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. There is need to reflect on the Constitutional provisions such as Articles 24 and 44 that speak against any form of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. All human beings ought to be treated with respect and dignity.
- News of the revival of the Human Rights Tribunal is welcome with the request to systems and institutions of State shouldn’t only be in place but must be seen to perform their duties as set out in their founding documents, in this case Article 53 of the Constitution. There must be independence of institutions if justice is to be served and if in the ultimate, human rights and fundamental freedoms are to be promoted and protected.
- Human Rights Based Approach ought to be employed in drafting and enforcement of regulations and laws. Before any officer steps out to deal with the public, they must reflect on the fact that they have to remain humane and understand the basic human rights standards. We are all united by life and therefore, no one should think highly of themselves than others. We need each other, no matter who we are.
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