HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE: ISSUE NO.13 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 4^TH TO 10^TH APRIL 2022

Dear esteemed Reader,

Welcome to a new week! May it bring good thoughts and a fresh mind for us to continue reflecting on the emerging human rights concerns and also give us the opportunities to come up with sustainable redress mechanisms in order to achieve a society where fundamental human rights and freedoms including those of HRDs are respected, promoted and realized.

As we share with you this week’s updates, you may wish to note that within last week, the Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted the resolution on Human rights defenders by a large majority. The resolution aimed at sending a strong, unified message of recognition & support to HRDs and their essential role in conflict & post-conflict situations worldwide. A copy of the resolution can be accessed via this link: https://twitter.com/NorwayInGeneva/status/1509870389442269190.

In relation to updates on COVID-19 situation in Uganda;

Results of COVID-19 tests done on 8 April 2022 confirm 8 new cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are 163,993. The breakdown of the new cases is: 08 Alerts and Contacts; Kampala (5), Wakiso (2),Kanungu (1)

Source: https://twitter.com/MinofHealthUG

COVID-19 IMPACT: 15.9 MILLION UGANDANS COULD HAVE BEEN INFECTED WITH COVID: WHO

15.9 million Ugandans could have been infected with COVID-19, this is according to a study published by the World Health Organization-WHO.

According to the findings of the study that were presented on during a weekly meeting, the number of COVID-19 cases that were reported on the continent did not capture the actual numbers of infected persons. Initially, the Ministry of Health had confirmed that 163,954 tested positive for Covid-19.

The study whose findings are based on 151 seroprevalence studies carried out on the continent between January 2020 and December 2021 shows that the COVID- infections were 97 times more than the reported cases.

Covid-19 testing

Source: https://www.independent.co.ug/15-9-million-ugandans-could-have-been-infected-with-covid-who/

COVID-19 INFECTION, VACCINATION OFFER SIMILAR PROTECTION - STUDY

Survivors of COVID-19 who acquire natural immunity are protected from reinfection and hospitalization as much as those who are vaccinated with one or two doses, a study revealed. 

Published in the Lancet, an Infectious Diseases scientific journal on 31^st March 2022, the study carried out in Sweden was aimed at determining the risk of SARS-COV-2 reinfection and COVID-19 hospitalization in individuals with natural and hybrid immunity.

Covid-19 patents in a hospital in Uganda

Source and details: https://observer.ug/news/headlines/73241-covid-19-infection-vaccination-offer-similar-protection-study

SOME EMERGING HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES

KARAMOJA CONFLICTS AND THE RIGHT TO LIFE: TWO CONFESS TO KILLING THREE GEOLOGISTS, TWO UPDF SOLDIERS IN MOROTO- POLICE

Police’s Anti Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) arrested two key suspects in the killing of three geologists and two soldiers in Moroto District last month. Three officials, including one of the country's top geologists, and their two military escorts were on March 21 killed in a remote, mineral-rich region bordering South Sudan and Kenya.

Two of the suspects confessed to killing the geologists, according to police.

Mr. Micheal Longole, the Karamoja regional police spokesperson said: "I’m glad to say two of the prime suspects in the killing of three geologists have so far been arrested and they confessed."

The suspects who were rounded up following the killing of the geaologists being led to the UPDF cells in Moroto District. Two of the 20 suspects have reportedly confesed to  killing the three geologists and their two military escorts on March 21, 2022. Photo/Steven Ariong

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/two-confess-to-killing-three-geologists-two-updf-soldiers-in-moroto-police-3771016

THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM FROM TORTURE: EU RIGHTS ENVOY VOICES CONCERN ABOUT UGANDA 'TORTURE' SITES

The EU's human rights chief on Wednesday 6^th March 2022, voiced concern about the torture of detainees in Uganda and other rights abuses, calling on President Yoweri Museveni to ensure there is action to stop the practices, not just words.

Eamon Gilmore said he had raised the bloc's concerns in talks with the veteran Ugandan leader and other officials during a visit to Kampala.

His trip came two weeks after Human Rights Watch issued a report saying the government was using secret detention centres known as safehouses to crack down on opponents and torture the captives.

"We expressed our concern about people being tortured in detention. (It is) a necessity to end that practice, also a necessity to bring to account those who have been responsible for torture," Gilmore said at a press conference.

European Union Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore addresses journalists in Kampala on April 6, 2022. PHOTO/ISAAC KASAMANI

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/eu-rights-envoy-voices-concern-about-uganda-torture-sites-3774130

ADVANCING WOMEN’S RIGHS AND EMPOWERMENT: GOVERNMENT, MPS, WOMEN’S GROUPS AND CIVIL SOCIETY MEET TO DISCUSS LABOUR RIGHTS FOR WOMEN

The Parliamentary Committee of Gender, Labour and Social Development called on President Yoweri Museveni to ascend onto the recently passed Market Bill, 2021 to strengthen market administration through privatization.

This was disclosed during the 2nd Informal Women Workers in COVID-19 socio-economic policy dialogue in Kampala organized by the International Center for Research on Women- ICRW.

The discussions were centered mainly on recent research and policy initiatives aimed at ensuring the well being and labor rights for women in the informal sector.

Group Photo of participants of the dialogue by International Centre of Research on Women to discuss labour rights for women in the informal sector
Image: IRCW

Source: https://capitalradio.co.ug/news/2022-04-07-government-mps-womens-groups-and-civil-society-meet-to-discuss-labour-rights-for-women/

A CALL FOR PROTECTION OF REFUGEES AND THEIR RIGHTS: MORE CONGOLESE REFUGEES FLEE TO UGANDA FOLLOWING FRESH ADF REBEL ATTACKS

More Congolese refugees fled to Uganda through Kasese district following fresh attacks by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

By Thursday 7^th April 2022, an estimated 1,500 Congolese refugees had arrived in the district, while another 500 were registered. The group comprises mostly women and children from the areas of Masamba, Nobili, Kakororo and the surroundings. 
The refugees are being registered and screened by security and local council authorities at Kisebere primary school in Kitholhu sub-county, bordering DRC.

Congolese refugees arriving in Kasese

Source: https://observer.ug/news/headlines/73308-more-congolese-refugees-flee-to-uganda

CONCLUDING REMARK:

It is important for all of us to continue observing some key basic operating procedures relating to prevention of COVID-19 spread. It may seem like the country and the world is getting back to normal but the fact that tests still confirm some cases means that the pandemic is still around.

Let's also continue praying for peace and tranquility especially within the Karamoja sub region. Uganda will be able to promote, protect and realise human rights and fundamental freedoms for all if all the regions are at peace and developing at the desired pace.

We are all human rights defenders. Let's continue to monitor and share relevant information within our communities. This will help us to find appropriate measures of addressing some of the emerging issues within the environment where we conduct our work.

Thank you for reading and we wish you a joyous week ahead!

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