ISSUE NO.16 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 2ND TO 8TH MAY 2022
Dear esteemed Reader,
We
welcome you to a new week.
As we share with you our updates from last week, we would like to welcome back and thank all HRDs, Civil Society Leaders and Development partners who attended and participated in the 6th National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Uganda (NCHRDU) Annual General Assembly which took place on 5th May 2022, under the theme “Promoting accountability and Transparency amidst the ever-changing Civic Space Context”. Among the activities held during the meeting, was the election of new Board Members and technical thematic working groups (TTWG).
Further more during the Assembly, HRCU’s Executive Director Margaret Sekaggya who has also been the Board Chairperson of the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Uganda (NCHRD-UG), while addressing participants at the Annual General Meeting noted that “We cannot have the moral authority to criticize the state for failure to abide by the rule of law, good governance and promotion of Human rights; we need to look in as civil society organizations”
Image Source: https://twitter.com/NCHRD_UG
In
addition, As Uganda and the press cohort commemorated World Press Freedom Day
on May 3 2022; the Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ-UG)a local organization
that works on enhancing the promotion,
protection and respect of the rights of journalists and media freedoms in
Uganda, launched its annual press freedom index report titled “Media Shutouts and Shut downs” for the
year 2021.
A
copy of the report can be accessed and downloaded via the link below:
https://hrnjuganda.org/?wpdmpro=press-freedom-index-report-2021-media-shutouts-shutdowns
Let’s now
begin our updates from last week with a look at the COVID-19 updates and
related developments.
COVID-19 UPDATES
WHO:
COVID PANDEMIC KILLED 13 TO 17 MILLION IN 2020-21
The
Covid-19 pandemic killed 13.3 to 16.6 million people in 2020 and 2021, the WHO
estimated on May 5 2022-- up to triple
the number of deaths officially attributed to the disease.
“The full death toll associated directly or
indirectly with the Covid-19 pandemic between January 1, 2020 and December 31,
2021 was approximately 14.9 million (range 13.3 million to 16.6 million),"
the UN health agency said.
COVID-19 VACCINATION
OF CHILDREN WILL NOT BE FORCEFUL: EDUCATION MINISTER
The
Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataha Museveni said that children will
not be forced to get a COVID-19 jab. The minister made the remarks on May 4
2022 during a press briefing at State House Nakasero. She said that the
vaccination of children will be by consent from parents.
Janet
noted that she is aware that the current legal regime requires that one should
get consent before being vaccinated. She said that the parents can as well take
such decisions on behalf of their children.
KEY EMERGING HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES
PRESS FREEDOM: IGP OCHOLA DIRECTS ON PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS
The Inspector General of Police, Martins Okoth
Ochola directed police commanders to ensure protection of journalists during
their line of duty.
While addressing journalists during the weekly press
briefing at police headquarters at Naguru , police spokesperson Fred Enanga
said as the world celebrates the press freedom day, the IGP directed that no journalist should be
interfered, obstructed, intimidated or attacked physically while in the line of
duty.
Source:https://capitalradio.co.ug/news/latest/2022-05-04-ochola-directs-on-protection-of-journalists/
WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY 2022 COMMEMORATIONS: INTERNET SHUTDOWNS, NEW LAWS THREATEN FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN UGANDA
Journalism in Uganda is being undermined by new
laws, which have affected the right to freedom of expression. As Uganda joined
the rest of the world to mark World Press Freedom Day, there was increased
concern that the attack on freedom of expression is hindering human rights
including press freedom.
Lawyers, civil society, and media actors said the
State has stepped up internet policing, thereby forcing journalists and the
general public to self-censorship for fear of repression.
Mr Peter Magelah Gwayaka, a lawyer and media
advocate, said the right to freedom of expression is particularly being
threatened by intolerance. “I would
say freedom of speech in Uganda has gradually been eroded. People don’t want to
be criticized. There is too much intolerance, and this cuts across all sectors
of life,” Mr Gwayaka noted on Tuesday, May 3 2022.
KARAMOJA CONFLICTS: UPDF BURNS 378 GUNS COLLECTED FROM KARIMOJONG WARRIORS
Over
378 guns collected from Karimojong warriors were burnt by the army "To
show how useless the weapons were."
The Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF) has been participating in the
campaign with African Amnesty on the voluntary surrender of illicit weapons
held by civilians in Karamoja sub-region. The guns were torched on April 30,
2022, at Kotido air strip in the presence of local leaders, community and the
joint security forces with the main aim of discouraging the circulation of
illegal firearms.
Source:https://observer.ug/news/headlines/73491-security-burns-378-guns-collected-from-karimojong-warriors
THE RIGHT TO LIFE: DAY OF GRIEF AS ROAD CARNAGE CLAIMS 28 LIVES
Four
separate motor accidents – three in western and one in eastern part of the
country – on May 4 2022 claimed 28 lives. The accidents happened in Kyegegwa,
Rukungiri, Fort Portal and Mbale-Tirinyi highways. In
the latter incident, three cars smashed into each other, killing seven people,
after a taxi overtaking another rammed head-on into an oncoming Raum vehicle.
The
worst of them all was the Link Bus crash outside Fort Portal City in which the
driver, posthumously identified as Big Daddy, died. Two children, both under a
year, reportedly perished in the 10am crash in a tea estate at Ssebitoli corner
towards Kibale National Park. One family in Bundibugyo lost three
members; Gift Asiimwe, Daphne Alinda and Devine Alice.
Investigators discounted initial reports that a front tyre burst propelled the bus to somersault, causing the worst accident in Link Bus Company’s history since its establishment in 2003.
Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/day-of-grief-as-road-carnage-claims-28-lives-3805136
CONCLUDING REMARK
It’s prime
to note that the press is a key tool and cornerstone in the protection and
promotion of fundamental rights and freedoms and hence of great paramount to
ensure that media practitioners especially journalist are protected and their
rights are observed at all time while they carry out the work of informing and
educating citizens.
Our prayers, sympathies and heartfelt condolences go the families and friends who lost loved ones in the road accidents that occurred last week.
We thank you for
reading and wish you a happy new week
For any inquiries, please contact the Human Rights Centre Uganda on
0800333000
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