HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE: ISSUE NO.18 OF 2022
THE HUMAN RIGHTS
CENTRE UGANDA (HRCU)
WEEKLY UPDATE ON COVID-19
AND KEY EMERGING HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES WITHIN THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT OF HRDS IN
UGANDA
THE WEEK OF 23RD
TO 29TH MAY 2022
Dear reader,
Welcome
to a new week and as we come to the end of this month, may we continue with the
resilience and energy in advancing the protection and promotion of fundamental
human rights and freedoms in the country.
As we begin to look at our updates from last week, we urge all HRDs and the general public to be more vigilant and cautious on the reported outbreak of monkeypox virus which has reportedly spread to 20 countries globally.https://www.voanews.com/a/who-nearly-200-cases-of-monkeypox-in-more-than-20-countries-/6592474.html
COVID-19
UPDATES
MUSEVENI MEETS SINOVAC VACCINE
MANUFACTURERS
President Museveni
met with a team from the Chinese biopharmaceutical company, Sinovac, over plans
to start manufacturing vaccines and drugs.
The visit by the team from Sinovac comes just two weeks after Dr Cedric
Akwesigye, the head of Kampala-based Vaccine Access Initiative (VAI), revealed
plans to work with the Chinese company for the same reasons.
Source:https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/museveni-meets-sinovac-vaccine-manufacturers-3826444
AFRICA CONCERNED OVER MARKET FOR ITS COVID-19 VACCINE MANUFACTURERS
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(Africa CDC) on May 26 expressed its concern over lack of market for African
COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers.
The concern was expressed by Ahmed Ogwell, acting director of Africa CDC, as he emphasized the need to ensure a sustainable market for African vaccine manufacturers in line with the continent’s higher demand for vaccines.
Ogwell’s comments came amid some African vaccine manufacturers expressing their concern over lack of market for their products, threatening to shut down their plants due to lack of order. The problem came although the African continent still remains the least vaccinated continent, where only 16.9 percent of Africa’s population has been fully vaccinated, according to the Africa CDC.
Source and details: https://www.independent.co.ug/africa-concerned-over-market-for-its-covid-19-vaccine-manufacturers/
KEY
EMERGING HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES
THE
RIGHT TO A FAIR HEARING: MAJ KIGGUNDU MURDER SUSPECTS
WANT CASE DISMISSED
Eight Tabliq Muslims facing murder charges over
the brutal killing of Sheik Maj Mohammad Kiggundu and his bodyguard asked court
to dismiss the case.
Through their lawyer Geoffrey Turyamusiima, the
group Wednesday asked the International Crimes Division of the High Court
Justice Elizabeth Kabanda to allow them file an application for charges against
them to be dropped.
“Your honor with
your permission we seek leave of court to file our application to dismiss all
charges against the accused persons as the state has failed to prosecute them,”
Mr Turyamusiima said. Prosecution states that on November 26, 2016, the accused
and others still at large shot and killed
Sheikh Major Kiggundu and his body guard Sgt Steven Mukasa at
Masanafu Trading Centre in Rubaga Division.
Maj Kiggundu and his bodyguard, Sgt
Mukasa, were shot dead by assailants who were riding on two motorcycles the
city suburb as he was heading to Mengo for a radio talk show.
ENHANCING ACCESS TO JUSTICE: MUSEVENI APPOINTS 16 NEW JUDGES IN ACTING CAPACITY
President Yoweri
Museveni has appointed 16 new High court judges in acting capacity to help
clear the backlog in the justice system. Among the appointed include; Mary
Ikat, who has been a registrar at the High court, Douglas Singiza Karekona, a
chief magistrate at Buganda Road court, Susan Kanyange, the Court of Appeal
registrar, and Samuel Emokor and Flavia Matovu Nassuna.
Those picked form private practice are Patricia Kahingi Asiimwe, Bernard
Namanya, Thomas Ocaya Ojele Rubanga, Grace Harriet Magala, Collins Acellam, and
Allan Paul Nshimye Mbabazi. Others include Patricia Mutesi, Christine Kaahwa,
George Okello, Celia Nagawa, and Faridah Shamilah Bukirwa have been picked from
government departments and agencies including Attorney General's Chambers
Source:https://observer.ug/news/headlines/73769-museveni-appoints-16-new-judges-in-acting-capacity
MONKEYPOX THREATS: UGANDA ON HIGH ALERT AS MONKEYPOX SPREADS
The government said its scientists are on high alert to prevent any
eventuality as monkeypox, an infectious and potentially fatal disease, spread to
12 countries.
The disease, which spreads through close contact with the infected person, often manifests with acute skin rash, headache, fever and swollen lymph nodes. Other symptoms are muscle and body aches, back pain and profound weakness. The skin rash can look similar to that caused by chickenpox or syphilis but the distinguishing feature is fluid-filled blisters on the palms of the hands, according to experts. Dr. Muruta said Uganda has not yet detected any case of monkeypox even in the past.
THE RIGHT TO A FAIR HEARING: JAILED MP SSEGIRINYA’S LAWYER MISSES COURT FOR FOURTH TIME
The hearing of a case in which jailed Kawempe North Member of Parliament
(MP) Muhammad Ssegirinya is facing charges of inciting violence has stalled
for the fourth time.
Court on Thursday May 26, 2022 heard that the embattled legislator’s
lawyer Shamim Malende was unable to attend court as she was still unwell.
Consequently, the presiding Grade One Magistrate Siena Owomugisha
adjourned the case to June 30 for further hearing.
Prosecution contends that “Mr Ssegirinya, a resident of Nsoba Kyebando
Parish in Kawempe, a city suburb, and others still at large on March 22, at
Mini Price in Kampala did an act calculated to incite violence against other
persons by holding placards demanding for presidential victory for the former
Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine.”
Mr Ssegirinya is also accused of displaying other placards bearing
messages demanding for the release of incarcerated opposition National Unity
Platform (NUP) members.
REGIONAL UPDATE
A THREAT TO REGIONAL PEACE AND STABILITY: UNITED NATIONS: LATEST DRC VIOLENCE HAS DISPLACED MORE THAN 72,000 PEOPLE
Fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo over the past week
between the army and M23 rebels forced more than 72,000 people from their
homes, the United Nations said.
The M23, a rebel group claiming to represent the interests of ethnic
Tutsis in eastern DRC, staged its largest offensive since a 2012-2013
insurrection that captured vast swaths of the countryside.
There has been heavy fighting as near as 20 kilometres (12 miles) to
Goma, the major city in the region. In recent months, the rebels have
attacked army bases in the area.
Of the 72,000 people who fled, about 7,000 reportedly crossed into
neighbouring Uganda, the UN Refugee Agency said in a statement on May 27.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/27/un-latest-drc-violence-has-displaced-more-than-72000-people
INTERNATIONAL UPDATE
THE RIGHT TO LIFE: GUNMAN AT A TEXAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KILLS 19 STUDENTS AND TWO ADULTS BEFORE BEING FATALLY SHOT, OFFICIALS SAY
An 18-year-old gunman
on Tuesday May 24, 2022 fatally shot 19 children and two adults at a
Texas elementary school before he was killed by law enforcement officers,
officials said.
The shooter
identified by Texas officials as Salvador Ramos, of Uvalde -- also shot his
grandmother before crashing a vehicle near the school, Texas Department of
Public Safety Sgt. Erick Estrada said. She is in critical condition, he said.
The gunman is believed to have acted alone, Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo said.
A woman reacts Tuesday outside of the civic center in
Uvalde
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/24/us/uvalde-texas-elementary-school-shooting/index.html
1.The recent appointments of judges to
the High Court by President Yoweri Museveni, is a highly welcome move which will exclusively
contribute on enhancing access to justice and advancing the right to a fair
hearing as provided for under Article 28 of the 1995 constitution of the
Republic of Uganda. It should be noted that in advancing access to justice and
the right to a fair hearing, addressing matters is case backlog is key.
2. Promoting and strengthening regional peace and stability is important in ensuring that citizens fully enjoy their rights. Any act(s) of instability is/are highly reprobated since it/they pose a big threat on the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Key interventions like dialogue and ceasefire among states can be applied as mechanisms in further promoting and ensuring peace and stability.
3. Article
3 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) provides for the right to life. Therefore, any
acts intended to violate this right are highly condemned and in the same vein, calls for the
need by key stakeholders especially state actors to intensify strategies aimed
at ensuring that the citizenry fully enjoy their right to life. Our heartfelt
condolences and sympathies go to the families and friends of the 19 children
and 2 adults that were killed in the Texas elementary school shooting.
We
thank you for reading and wish you a happy new week.
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