HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE: ISSUE NO. 31 OF 2022
THE HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE UGANDA
(HRCU)
WEEKLY UPDATE ON THE KEY EMERGING
HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES WITHIN THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT OF HRDS IN UGANDA
THE WEEK OF 22ND TO 28TH
AUGUST, 2022
Welcome
to a new week!
The
Human Rights Centre Uganda is pleased to share with you this week’s edition of
the prime human rights issues that emerged from last week.
In
the course of last week, discussions regarding the Computer Misuse (Amendment)
Act, 2022 continued whereby the Human Rights Network for Journalists, a local
organization in Uganda advocating for the protection and promotion of the right to
freedom of expression, information, and media freedoms made submissions to
Parliament on the aforementioned Bill- https://hrnjuganda.org/?p=9615.
On
Friday, August 26, 2022, the Wakiso District Human Rights Committee launched a human
rights situational report on the “Invisible
Plight of People of Bussi Island”. And some of the key issues
contextualized in the report include the lack of a police station and court on the Island which impedes access to justice. https://ugandaradionetwork.net/story/bussi-islands-lacking-police-station-court-
A
copy of the report can be accessed here: https://wdhrc.org/images/WDHRC%20BUSII%20ISLAND%20REPORT%202022.pdf
In
the same week, the country was dismayed by the news of the passing of former
security minister General Elly Tumwine whose death occurred on August 25 2022
in Nairobi. https://www.independent.co.ug/gen-elly-tumwine-is-dead/
On
August 26, 2022, the country led by President Museveni held national
celebrations to mark the International Youth Day in Gulu City under the theme: Intergenerational
Solidarity: “The role of the youth in the
implementation of the Parish Development Model”. During the celebrations,
President Museveni also launched the Regional Communication Infrastructure
Project (RCIP), an initiative undertaken by the National Information and Technology
Authority (NITA) Uganda, aimed at lowering the cost of the Internet to enable
business and productivity and also extend Internet connectivity to all the
regions of the country- https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/go-to-the-farm-and-dig-museveni-tells-youth-3928728
In other news;
On
August 30-31, 2022, the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders in Uganda
will hold sessions to share knowledge, experiences, and good practices in the
implementation of the Universal Periodic Review and its recommendations.
Some
of the other key emerging issues included the following:
PROMOTING ACCESS TO
JUSTICE: CHIEF JUSTICE ASKS LAZY JUDICIAL OFFICERS TO QUIT
The
Chief Justice of Uganda Alfonse Owiny-Dollo warned lazy judicial officers to
quit if they are not willing to perform their duties in the existing
environment.
He
said negligence of duty has led to a case backlog whereby some cases take two
years without being heard.
"You are the best
paid civil servants in Uganda, there is no reason why you don't want to perform," Justice Owiny-Dolo said
during the induction training of the newly appointed chief magistrates in
Mukono Tuesday August 23,2022.
Justice
Owiny-Dolo said that each district will get a chief magistrate since the budget
was increased.
He
also warned the judicial officers against taking bribes and engaging in other
forms of corruption, saying that these tarnish the name of the Judiciary as a
whole.
The
Principal Judge Dr Flavian Zeija noted that corruption in the judiciary
manifests during the bail process, writing judgments, and during taxation of
bills of costs.
Dr
Zeija said will not tolerate absenteeism as he will be visiting different
courts without notifying them to check on their performance and the working
environment.
However,
some of the chief Magistrates complained of the poor working environment and
lack of allowances.
CIVIL
SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS CALL FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY ON BORROWED FUNDS
Civil Society Organisations in Uganda are calling for total transparency and accountability on utilisation of borrowed funds by various government entities.
This effort is spearheaded by SEATINI Uganda, Uganda Debt Network and Transparency International Uganda.
Peninnah Mbabazi, the
Program Officer, Debt and Aid at SEATINI Uganda said there is need for
government to undertake mid-term assessments on ongoing projects to take an
early decision on whether or not to re-channel the money from non-performing
projects. Mbabazi said there’s a need to open the conversation on debt beyond
the technical people and take it to the ordinary Ugandan, academic institutions, and all other stakeholders.
She noted that data about the performance and results of debt-funded projects appear to be under “lock and key,” despite the fact that Uganda publishes reports on the status of public debt, guarantees, other financial liabilities and grants every year.
Mbabazi also wants policymakers to be held accountable as they play an oversight role in the approval and acquisition process as well as scrutinizing projects.
THE
RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION Vs THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY:
IT'S 10 YEARS IN JAIL FOR SHARING PHOTOS
Critics have said the
Computer Misuse Amendment Bill, 2022, which is under parliamentary scrutiny, “attacks freedom of opinion and aims to gag
everyone from thinking.”
Until now, sharing a video/photo of a child without seeking permission from the parent/guardian or taking a photo of an errant adult was not an offense. But the legislation’s main sponsor, Muhammad Nsereko, the Member of Parliament for Kampala Central, wants parliament to formally vote to tag a seven or 10-year jail term to the action.
Nsereko demands that before recording a video or photographing a parent abusing his or her child, you have to seek permission from that parent. Also, anyone convicted under the proposed bill shall not be allowed to hold public office for 10 years.
You also risk 10 years in prison if you record or take someone’s photo without his or her approval. If you find someone easing him or herself along the road, according to the draft legislation, you should seek permission before you either record or take that photo.
The Computer Misuse Act, of 2011 has been used previously to suppress digital rights including free expression and access to information. In 2019, Academic and social critic Dr Stella Nyanzi was convicted of cyber harassment contrary to section 24 of the Act but was acquitted of the offensive communications charge, which is proscribed under section 25.
In December 2021,
author and government critic Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was arrested, detained,
and prosecuted for alleged offensive communication. Kakwenza was accused of
offensive communication against the person of President Museveni and his son
Lt. Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Source:https://observer.ug/news/headlines/74883-it-s-10-years-in-jail-for-sharing-photos
A
BIG STEP IN HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION: UPDF TROOPS ACQUIRE MORE SKILLS IN HUMAN
RIGHTS PROTECTION
The
Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) 3 Infantry Division partnered with Uganda
Human Rights Commission (UHRC) and United Nations Human Rights (UNHR) Moroto
Office to equip UPDF Frontline troops in South Karamoja with skills in human
rights protection. The UPDF team was composed of Division Political Commissars,
Public Information Officers and Civil Military Cooperation Officers.
The training in the
different UPDF detachments by the human rights facilitators aimed at
strengthening the knowledge and understanding of human rights policy and
standards among UPDF personnel.
The training which is
conducted on a quarterly and phased basis is designed to foster peace and
social cohesion within the community, earn credit and confidence for UPDF
personnel as they uphold and promote human rights standards.
The participants acquired knowledge and skills on the importance of Human Rights; Code of conduct, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) adhered to when conducting Cordon and Search operations and applicable human rights standards in case force is involved.
Other lessons included: Special consideration of children and women, consequences for failure to observe SOPs, the role of media in military operations and impact of misuse of social media.
The training program
benefited over 700 officers and militants.
Source and details: https://www.updf.go.ug/training/updf-troops-acquire-more-skills-in-human-rights-protection/
STOP
LINKING TERRORISM TO ISLAM, MUSLIMS URGE GOV’T
Muslim leaders in Luwero district asked the Internal Affairs Minister, Gen. Kahinda Otafiire to reign on security personnel linking terror activities to Islam. Several Imams and Muslims have been arrested from Luwero district since the year began for their alleged links to terror-related activities.
The recent incident
occurred when joint police and military team raided a hill at Kireku village in
Luwero district in June this year and forcefully disbanded a group of 70 Muslim
converts claiming that they were being radicalised.
In the same month, security raided the home of Umar Kabonge Ajobe, a resident of Kikubajinja zone in Luwero town claiming that he was using it to assemble bombs to terrorize Kampala city. Ajobe and two others who were arrested for their alleged links to the rebel Allied Democratic Forces are still locked up in an unknown facility.
On Wednesday, August
24, 2022, a group of Muslims in collaboration with the Office of the President
organized a meeting at Luwero Islamic Primary School to sensitize Muslim
leaders allied to the Kibuli faction in Greater Luwero on countering terrorism,
radicalism, extremism, and promote social-economic transformation.
The meeting was
attended by Internal Affairs Minister General Kahinda Otafiire. During the
meeting, Muslim leaders told Otafiire that Islam has nothing to do with
terrorism, arguing that it was wrong for security personnel to target Muslims
in their operations to stop terror.
Source:https://www.independent.co.ug/stop-linking-terrorism-to-islam-muslims-urge-govt/
CONCLUDING REMARKS
1. Training and knowledge-building programs for security personnel from
the Uganda Peoples Defence forces on concepts of human rights protection and
promotion are very fundamental in not only equipping them with knowledge and
skills on how best to ensure the observation and vindication of human rights standards but also
in the implementation of different human rights policies, regulations, and laws such as the
Human Rights (Enforcement) Act, 2019, the human rights-based approach and other minimal
Standard Operating Procedures aimed at safeguarding human rights. In addition, this plays a big role in creating a conducive working environment for human rights defenders in Uganda such as journalists. Security forces are candid in human rights enforcement.
2. As human rights defenders, continue
to actively engage in the protection and promotion of human rights through
working on a wide range of human rights issues, let us continue to champion
their well-being and also improve the environment within which they operate. This may be achieved with collective support and collaboration from both the HRDs, key stakeholders/development
partners, and the State.
Thank you for reading, wishing you a happy new week!
Feel free
to contact our legal aid department on 0800-333-000
(Toll-Free) for any kind of assistance.
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