HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE: ISSUE NO.12 OF 2022
THE HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE UGANDA (HRCU)
WEEKLY UPDATE ON COVID-19
AND KEY EMERGING HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES WITHIN THE WORKING ENVIROMENT OF HRDS IN
UGANDA
THE WEEK OF 28TH
MARCH TO 3RD APRIL 2022
Dear esteemed Reader(s), welcome to
a new month
May
the month of April come with new beginnings and opportunities to help us
discover something or make inspiring decisions that will change our lives for
the better, and also bring on new ideas on how best Human rights can be
protected and promoted through recognizing the value of each person, ensuring their dignity, safety and health,
equal working conditions and promoting diversity.
As
usual, In this week’s edition we bring to you some of the salient stories that
have emerged within the working environment of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs),
which we will begin with an update on COVID-19 below.
COVID 19 UPDATES
Results of COVID-19 tests done on 1 April 2022 confirm 4 new
cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are 163,936. The breakdown of the new cases
is : Kampala (2), Wakiso (2).
Source: https://twitter.com/MinofHealthUG
COVID-19 TREATMENT: COVID-19 PATIENTS SHARING WARDS WITH INPATIENTS AT MULAGO
Patients
with severe COVID-19 referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital are being
forced to share wards with other critically ill patients following the closure
of the COVID-19 treatment unit.
Hospitalized
COVID-patient receiving treatment. File Photo
Source: https://www.independent.co.ug/covid-19-patients-sharing-wards-with-inpatients-at-mulago/
COVID-19 MEASURES: AFRICAN COUNTRIES SCALE BACK ON COVID-19 MEASURES
With new COVID-19
cases significantly dropping, many countries are increasingly curtailing
COVID-19 surveillance and quarantine measures. While the need to reopen
economies and resume social life is important, the World Health Organization
(WHO) called for caution and consideration of the risks involved.
WHO said contact
tracing is still a key strategy for curbing the spread of the virus and
reducing mortality.
Source: https://www.independent.co.ug/african-countries-scale-back-on-covid-19-measures/
COVID-19 TESTING: GOVT STAYS PCR COVID TESTING AT ENTEBBE AIRPORT
The Ministry of
Health’s orders to maintain the COVID-19 restrictions for departing and
arriving travellers at Entebbe International Airport even as the aviation
industry and the economy struggle to recover from Covid-19 impacts, have
triggered disagreements from different sectors.
Every passenger, including those who are fully vaccinated will still be required to present negative PCR Covid-19 test results taken within 72 hours while entering or leaving through Entebbe airport.
A health worker takes a sample from a truck driver in Busia for Covid testing. Uganda has phased out Covid testing requirements for travellers from East African Community states entering Uganda through land borders and maintained the restrictions for departing and arriving travellers at Entebbe International Airport. PHOTO | FILE | NMG
KEY EMERGING HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES
MASAKA KILLINGS: MPS SEWANYA AND SEGIRINYA WERE AVENGING ELECTION RIGGING
MPs Muhammad
Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana were committed to the Masaka High Court for
trial on their second alleged murder charge of Bwanika Joseph on the 2nd of
August 2021.
The prosecution led by senior state prosecutor Richard Bilivumbuka presented the committal papers before Her Worship Christine Nantenge and an amended charge sheet adding on another suspect identified as Ssenyonga Wilson.
In the summary charge sheet, it is alleged that Ssenyonga carried out the murder after being hired by Ssegirinya and Sewanyana and later buried the victim upside down in a shallow grave with his legs hanging out.
KARAMOJA CONFLICTS: 251 SUSPECTED CATTLE RUSTLERS KILLED IN KARAMOJA
At least 251
suspected cattle rustlers were killed last year in the Karamoja sub-region by a
joint force of police and the army, security forces said, with most deaths
attributed to forceful disarmament operations.
Most suspected Karimojong warriors were killed following the relaunch of disarmament operations in the northeastern sub-region on July 17, 2021, Brig Gen Joseph Balikudembe, the 3rd division commander revealed.
Brig Joseph Balikudembe
making his presentation during the regional security review meeting in Moroto
District on March 3, 2022. Photo / Steven Ariong
PROMOTING INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, TRADE AND SECURITY: DEMOCATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC) JOINS EAST AFRICAN BLOC
The Democratic
Republic of Congo was officially admitted to the East African Community on
March 29, 2022 during the 19th Extraordinary Summit of the EAC
Heads of State.
While addressing the EAC Heads of State, President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is the chairperson of the Summit, said the admission of the DRC into the bloc would enable the Community achieve the much-needed development based on the economies of scale.
“Today, the 29th, is a historic day in the history of the EAC
as we admit the DRC into the EAC. We have already considered and agreed, in our
closed session, and the Summit has taken the decision to admit the DRC into the
EAC,” said President Kenyatta. “The admission of the DRC into EAC is historic,
not only for our countries but our continent at large.”
DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi. PHOTO | LUDOVIC
MARIN | POOL | AFP
Source: https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/dr-congo-joins-east-african-bloc-3764212
KARAMOJA CONFLICTS: JUDICIARY SUSPENDS VISIT TO KARAMOJA TO ARBITRATE LAND DISPUTES OVER ESCALATING VIOLENCE
The judiciary suspended plans to visit Karamoja following escalation in armed cattle rustling and civilian killings.The announcement was made by Uganda’s Chief Justice Alfonse C. Owinyi-Dollo in an April 1 letter to all regional judicial officers.
Owinyi-Dollo stressed that the current state of insecurity does not give an enabling environment for a judiciary locus exercise to take place.
The letter read in
parts, “We have received reports of
rampant cattle raids and heightened insecurity in Karamoja Sub – Region. Due to
this phenomenon, visiting of the locus is suspended until further notice.”
CJ Owiny- Dollo
For any inquiries, Human rights concerns, please reach us on 0800333000
Thank
you for reading. We wish you a fruitful week.
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