HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE: ISSUE NO. 22 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 20TH TO 26TH
JUNE, 2022
Dear
reader,
Welcome to a new week,
We welcome back all Civil Society Organizations’
representatives and human rights defenders umbrella bodies like the Coalition Against
Torture (CAT) from the commemorations to observe the United Nations Day in Support
of Victims of Torture which is marked on June, 26. Nationally, commemorations
for this day were held under the theme “You
too can be a Victim of Torture; Stand Up Against Torture.” The United
Nations Day in Support of Victims of Torture is a day to remind people that
torture is not only a crime but also unacceptable and unjustifiable, the day also calls for extending honor and support to the
victims of torture. Therefore, we must all stand up and speak out against any
forms of torture and inhuman treatment.
The following are the updates from last week, beginning with a look at COVID-19 updates.
COVID-19 UPDATES
Results
of COVID-19 tests done on 24 June 2022 confirm 85 new cases. The cumulative
confirmed cases are 167,452. The breakdown of the new cases is: 65 Alerts and
Contacts: Kampala (61), Rubirizi (6), Mbarara (4), Iganga (1), Wakiso (3), Oyam
(1), Mukono (1) Amudat (3), Amuru (3), Jinja (2)
SIX
MILLION DOSES OF PFIZER, J&J JABS EXPIRING
The shortcomings in the COVID-19 vaccination
campaign in the country caused the expiry of vaccines worth Shs173 billion
and more vaccines worth Shs160 billion are again at risk of expiry in three
months, the Daily Monitor established.
Details in Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng’s
briefing prepared for Cabinet sitting at State House Entebbe on June 20, 2022, showed that six million doses of Pfizer and previously in-demand Johnson&Johnson
(J&J) COVID-19 vaccines are expiring between this June and August.
Source:https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/six-million-doses-of-pfizer-j-j-jabs-expiring-3856040
VACCINATION OF CHILDREN: CABINET OKAYS VACCINATION OF LEARNERS AGED 12-17
The
Cabinet passed a decision that will see an estimated 6 million learners aged
12-17 years get vaccinated against COVID-19. The learners will be vaccinated
using the Pfizer vaccine which has been approved by both the US Center for
Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.
Previously,
the government had planned to vaccinate learners in a mass school campaign so
as to reach as many children as possible. However, following complaints by some
parents, the Ministries of Health and Education shelved those plans awaiting
the cabinet’s decision.
Dr
Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister of ICT and National Guidance said the decision
was reached to vaccinate children due to the current rise in COVID-19 cases.
Source:https://www.independent.co.ug/cabinet-okays-vaccination-of-learners-aged-12-17/
KEY
EMERGING HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES
DGF
SUSPENSION: MUSEVENI AGREES TO LIFT BAN ON DGF
President Yoweri
Museveni agreed to lift a ban he imposed on Democratic Governance Facility
(DGF), a civil society funding body, whose activities were suspended last
year. In a press statement issued by the Presidential Press Unit (PPU),
Museveni lifted the ban following a meeting with the Danish Minister for
Development Cooperation, Flemming Miller Mortensen.
Ever since DGF was
suspended, a number of meetings have been held between the European Union donor
countries that pool together the fund’s resources and senior government officials.
However, up until now, no concrete results have been realized.
Source:https://observer.ug/news/headlines/74095-museveni-agrees-to-lift-ban-on-dgf
THE RIGHT TO APPLY FOR BAIL:
STATE ASKS COURT TO DISMISS MPS SSEGIRINYA
SEWANYANA'S BAIL APPEAL
The state objected to the bail Appeal filed by
the Kawempe North MP Muhammad Ssegirinya and Makindye West MP Allan Sewanyana
challenging the decision by the Masaka High Court to deny them bail on two
different occasions.
The legislators through their lawyers led by
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and Kampala Woman MP Shamim Malende appeared
before a panel of three justices led by Richard Birivumbuka, Christopher
Madrama, and Eva Luswata via video Conferencing.
However, the prosecution led by Kyomuhendo Joseph
objected to the said Bail Appeal on grounds that the Appeal was filed in the
wrong Court. Kyomuhendo submitted that by law, the MPs were meant to file fresh
Bail Applications instead of challenging the Masaka High Court decisions.
The MPs also informed the Justices that they need
immediate specialized private medical attention with MP Ssegirinya claiming
that his private parts are sick and in need of urgent medical attention.
ARTS VS SCIENCE
SALARIES: STRIKING TEACHERS REACT AS GOVERNMENT THREATENS TO SACK
THEM
The government ordered Arts teachers striking
over pay back to class latest or risk being sacked for absconding from duty and
engaging in an “illegal” industrial action. In a swift rejoinder, the
leadership and members of Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) dismissed the
threat, and asked the government to address the pay disparity between Science
and Arts teachers and stop bullying teachers exercising their labor rights.
“Any
government-employed teacher who does not comply [with] this call will be
regarded as having abandoned duty and resigned from public service in
accordance with Section A-n (17) of the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders,
2021,” Ministry of Public Service Permanent Secretary Catherine Bitarakwate
noted in a terse letter to Mr Filbert Baguma, the Unatu general secretary.
ADVANCING CHILDREN’S RIGHTS AND FIGHTING CHILD MARRIAGE: GOVT LAUNCHES PLAN TO END CHILD MARRIAGE
The government launched a national strategy to end child marriage and teenage pregnancy in
the country by 2026. The strategy, developed by the Ministry of Gender, Labor
and Social Development, focuses on four core areas; education, resilience and
livelihoods, health and nutrition, and child protection.
According to the
ministry of Gender, one in four children in Uganda is married off before they
are 18 years.
The National Planning
Authority (NPA) data, which was released last year, showed that the country
loses Shs1.6 trillion annually in tackling issues of harmful cultural
practices, including child marriage.
The State Minister for Children Affairs, Ms Sarah Nyirabashitsi Mateke, said the interventions are
child-focused.
Source:https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-launches-plan-to-end-child-marriage-3857506
REGIONAL UPDATE
THE RIGHT TO LIFE: UN RIGHTS CHIEF URGES PROBE INTO MASS KILLINGS IN ETHIOPIAN VILLAGE
The United Nations
rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, expressed her dismay at the recent killings of
civilians in the village of Tole, West Wellega in the Oromia region of
Ethiopia, and asked authorities to allow an independent investigation.
She termed the
killings “senseless”, which added to the forced displacement of the local
population in the attack on Tole village.
Her statement on Thursday, June 23 referred to the June 17 attack in which a group of armed individuals descended on the village and began shooting randomly, killing hundreds and forcing thousands of others to flee. Those affected were mostly women and children. Although located inside the Oromia region, Tole has a predominant Amhara population, signaling an understated ethnic dimension to the violence.
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) was tasked by parliament to “investigate the serious human rights violations committed against innocent people” in Oromia and Gambella region.
CONCLUDING REMARK
As the government launched key interventions to confront child marriage, we ought to note that the act of child marriage undermines the enjoyment of a child’s rights and welfare. Child marriage has dire effects on the girl child and these may include suffering abuse and violence, which comes with inevitable psychological and physical ramifications. Studies indicate that women who marry at young ages are more likely to believe that it is sometimes acceptable for a husband to beat his wife, and are therefore more likely to experience domestic violence themselves. Therefore, the act of child marriage is not only a national but also a global problem that requires collective interventions from parents, Civil Society Organizations, and Governments in addressing it. https://www.savethechildren.org/us/charity-stories/child-marriage-a-violation-of-child-rights
We
thank you for reading and wish you a happy new week.
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