HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE: ISSUE NO.14 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 18^TH TO 24^TH APRIL 2022

Dear esteemed Reader(s) welcome to a new week,

Please read through our updates for this week compiled for you, containing key stories like; Members of Parliament summoning Finance minister and other government officials over the controversial coffee deal  ,the passing of former Kenya President Mwai  Kibaki- https://www.independent.co.ug/kenyas-former-president-kibaki-dies-at-90/ , among other stories documented below which we begin to look at with an update on COVID-19.

COVID-19 UPDATES

Results of COVID-19 tests done on 17 April 2022 confirm 11 new cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are 164,069. The breakdown of the new cases is: Mbarara (8), Kampala (2), Gulu(1)

https://twitter.com/MinofHealthUG

COMBATING COVID-19: MINISTRY OF HEALTH SEEKS ADDITIONAL UGX 652BN TO MITIGATE COVID-19

Government needed an additional Shillings 652 billion to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 pandemic in the financial year 2022/2023, but the item remains as unfunded priority, the health minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng said.

Dr. Aceng made the request while appearing before Parliament’s Health Committee to defend the 2022/2023 ministerial budget estimates. She explained that the money would be spent on the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines.

Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng appeared before the Health Committee to respond to MPs’ concerns on the Ministerial Policy Statement for FY 2022/2023.

Source: https://www.independent.co.ug/ministry-of-health-seeks-additional-ugx-652bn-to-mitigate-covid-19/

COVID-19 CASES: UGANDA VIRUS RESEARCH INSTITUTE INVESTIGATES LOW COVID-19 CASES

The Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) started a study to investigate why the country and some of its neighbors are reporting low COVID-19 cases.

The study is expected to last four years and will look at what contribution the different COVID-19 variants have played in the spread of the disease on the African continent. One of the issues the study hopes to provide answers to is the low number of COVID-19 cases in some African countries.

Source:https://observer.ug/news/headlines/73406-uganda-virus-research-institute-investigates-low-covid-19-cases

 

KEY EMERGING HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES

ECONOMIC RIGHTS: HIGH COURT DECLINES TO BLOCK CRUDE OIL PIPELINE PROJECT

The High court in Kampala declined to order an injunction against ongoing procurements in the oil and gas sector. Blocking the procurement would have halted the ongoing efforts to develop the infrastructure needed to get oil out of the ground.

The Monday 11^th April 2022 ruling was premised on an application by city lawyer, Andrew Oluka, who had sought a declaration that the procurement processes undertaken by the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and Tilenga by TotalEnergies and Cnooc are being done in contravention of the constitution.

The applicant filed the application in public interest to enforce and stop the infringement of the constitutional and economic rights of Ugandans whom he said were entitled to priority in the provision of goods and services in the petroleum sector.

Cnooc staff in the field

Source: https://observer.ug/news/headlines/73318-high-court-declines-to-block-crude-oil-pipeline-project

A CALL FOR PROTECTION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS: KIRYANDONGO LAND EVICTIONS FORCE CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL

Hundreds of children were reported to have dropped out of school after the demolition of community schools established in disputed land in Kiryandongo District.

While the children have been home since 2019, their parents are now trapped in the middle of gardens belonging to three multi-national companies – Agilis Partners, Kiryandongo Sugar Ltd and Great Season SMC Ltd – who have allegedly evicted people from the disputed land.

The local population claimed they were being displaced without notice. As a result, it has caused untold suffering to more than 35,000 families residing in the disputed territory, which measures approximately 9,300 acres.

A man washes clothes near his makeshift structure in Kiryandongo District on Monday. Land evictions in the district have made many children to drop out of school. PHOTO/BILL OKETCH

Source:https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/kiryandongo-land-evictions-force-children-out-of-school-3788410

STRENGTHENING REGIONAL PEACE AND BI-LATERAL RELATIONS: MUSEVENI, KAGAME DISCUSS DR CONGO CRISIS

Uganda President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame agreed to push for joint regional peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

According to a press release from State House, Entebbe, the two leaders held a bilateral meeting over a wide range of issues. The visit was Kagame's first since March 2018 and there has been heightened diplomatic tensions between the two countries after Kagame accused Uganda of harbouring and funding Rwanda's dissidents and subsequently went on to close the borders.

President Paul Kagame being received at State House Entebbe by President Museveni and wife Janet

Source: https://observer.ug/news/headlines/73424-museveni-kagame-discuss-dr-congo-crisis

COFFEE INVESTMENT AGREEMENT: MPS SUMMON, KASAIJA, GGOOBI AND INVESTOR OVER COFFEE DEAL

The Parliamentary Committee on Trade, Tourism and Industry summoned individuals and entities behind the endorsement of the controversial coffee deal to explain their role in the agreement government signed with Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Ltd (UVCC), a private company that was granted exclusive rights to sell and market Ugandan coffee on the international market.

Those summoned to appear before the committee included Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, Italian investor Enrica Pinetti, the woman behind the multi-million dollar construction of the International Specialised Hospital, and Mr Ramathan Ggoobi, the Permanent Secretary of the Finance ministry. Others included the Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, Trade minister Francis Mwebesa, Agriculture minister Frank Tumwebaze, and the Solicitor General.

Finance minister Matia Kasaija (2nd left) exchanges documents with Ms Enrica Pinetti (right) after signing an agreement with the Finance ministry to establish a coffee processing plant in Uganda, on February 10. PHOTO / FILE

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/mps-summon-kasaija-ggoobi-and-investor-over-coffee-deal-3788514

FREEDOM FROM TORTURE: UPDF SOLDIER, CIVILIAN DENY RAPING NUP SUPPORTER

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier Sgt. Ali Hassan Matovu and a civilian identified as Erias Ssengoba, denied kidnapping and raping National Unity Platform (NUP) supporter, Alexandros Marinos.

Ms Marinos revealed to party members and journalists on Wednesday 20^th April 2022 that she was kidnapped on March 30 and kept in the dungeons of Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) for two days where she was tortured and sexually assaulted by Ssengoba and Matovu.

She said she was tortured for supporting and playing songs of NUP President, Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine. Marinos displayed torture marks on different parts of her body.

Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier Sgt Ali Hassan Matovu and a civilian identified as Erias Ssengoba. Photos | URN

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/updf-soldier-civilian-deny-raping-nup-supporter-3791950

ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR HRDS: 'HELPLESS' DPP REGRETS FAILURE TO FIND JOAN KAGEZI'S KILLERS AFTER 7 YEARS

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Jane Frances Abodo expressed regret over the unsolved murder of former principal state attorney Joan Kagezi. Kagezi, the lead prosecutor in the trial of 15 men accused of a deadly twin bomb attack by the al-Shabaab, was shot dead in March 2015 in Kiwatule.

However, seven years later, no suspect has been charged. Some of the suspects who were arrested were released for lack of evidence.

While addressing journalists on Friday ahead of the Joan Kagezi Memorial Symposium, Abodo said that she regrets why the case has remained unsolved for seven years.

RIP: Joan Kagezi

Source: https://observer.ug/news/headlines/73421-dpp-abodo-regrets-failure-to-find-joan-kagezi-s-killers-after-7-years

 Concluding remark:

Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) play a central role towards the enlightenment, observation and enforcement of human rights values in society so as in one way to have an environment were fundamental human rights and freedoms are respected and protected hence it’s of significance to accord them full support while carrying out their activities.

We thank you for reading and wish you a happy new week!