HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE: ISSUE NO. 37 OF 2022
THE HUMAN RIGHTS
CENTRE UGANDA (HRCU)
WEEKLY UPDATE ON KEY
EMERGING HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES WITHIN THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT OF HRDs IN UGANDA
THE WEEK OF 10TH TO
16TH OCTOBER 2022
Welcome to
this new week.
HRCU is
pleased to share with you another edition of the weekly updates containing some key
human rights issues that emerged in the course of last week.
Uganda
joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Mental Health day on October
10, 2022. The commemorations were held under the theme “Make Mental Health and well-being for All a Global Priority” In
addition, mental health experts called for mental health education in schools. https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/experts-call-for-mental-health-education-in-schools-3981162
On
Tuesday, October 11, 2022, Uganda also joined the world to observe the International
Day of the Girl Child. This year’s celebrations were held under the theme “Digital Generation. Our Generation”.
The International Day of the Girl seeks to increase awareness of issues faced
by girls around the world. https://www.un.org/en/observances/girl-child-day
During
the UN General Assembly session held on October 13, 2022, UN Special Rapporteur
on Human Rights Defenders Mary Lawlor presented a report on human rights
defenders working on the rights of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. The report makes some key recommendations
aimed at protecting the work and activities of HRDs and their well being. https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N22/428/94/PDF/N2242894.pdf?OpenElement
HEALTH WATCH
EBOLA OUTBREAK: EBOLA
IS UNDER CONTROL – GOVERNMENT
In
a statement, which largely infuses calm and comfort amid an outbreak of the
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), Dr Diana Atwine said the disease is under control
–almost three weeks after the disease was confirmed in Uganda on September 20.
“The current Ebola virus disease outbreak in
the country is under control and anybody with a plan to travel to Uganda is
encouraged to continue with their travel plans,” Atwine, the permanent
secretary of the ministry of Health said, and added that “The ministry of
Health reiterates that Uganda is safe for all national and international
travellers within the country. All places for conferences, workshops, tourist
attractions including national parks are safe for both local and international
tourists.”
She
said Mubende District is the epicentre of the outbreak with sporadic cases in
Kassanda, Kyegegwa, Kagadi, and Bunyagabu districts.
Source:https://observer.ug/news/headlines/75490-ebola-is-under-control-government
EBOLA: MUBENDE, AND KASSANDA DISTRICTS PLACED UNDER LOCKDOWN
President
Yoweri Museveni suspended movement to and from Mubende and Kassanda districts
to control the spread of the Ebola virus. The lockdown will last 21 days.
In
his address to the nation on Saturday October 15, evening last week, Museveni
said there will be no movement from anywhere to the two districts and from the
two districts to other parts of the country. Movement from Mubende to Kassanda
is also prohibited.
The
president also instituted a curfew suspending movement outside between 7pm to
6am as well as movement of public and private transport except for cargo
vehicles delivering supplies, Ministry of Health vehicles delivering services, authorised
government vehicles and security vehicles. These vehicles are also bared from
ferrying passengers and that they should restrict themselves within one
district.
Source:https://www.independent.co.ug/ebola-mubende-kassanda-districts-placed-under-lockdown/
THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM
OF EXPRESSION: MUSEVENI SIGNS INTO LAW COMPUTER MISUSE (AMENDMENT) BILL
President
Yoweri Museveni signed into law the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Bill, 2022,
which was passed by parliament recently.
Last
month, the Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ), which advocates for
media rights, wrote to the president, saying that the amendment has several
clauses that raise more questions than provide answers. He cited clause
2(a), which seeks to make unauthorized access to information an offence.
Source:https://observer.ug/news/headlines/75505-museveni-signs-into-law-computer-misuse-amendment-bill
ADDRESSING HUMAN
RIGHTS ABUSES AND VIOLATIONS BY STATES: US
LAUNCHES PROMISING HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTING TOOL
The United
States Department
of State is empowering ordinary people around the world to report human rights
abuses by foreign security forces.
On
September 30, the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and
Labor launched a new reporting tool, the Human
Rights Reporting Gateway, that
gives the public a way to alert the US government of gross violations of human
rights. The State Department hopes the information uploaded will help its
staffers determine which foreign security forces should not receive US
assistance.
The
vetting process that this information will feed into is required by the Leahy Laws, which prohibit the US
government from providing funding to assist specific units of foreign security
forces where there is “credible information implicating that unit in the
commission of gross violations of human rights.” Until now, vetting included
the review of classified and open-source materials. Now, people affected by
such abuses, academics, and human rights researchers can contribute to the
process.
The
public may use the Reporting Gateway to submit information on these violations.
The website has a six-month pilot period, after which the State Department will
evaluate and adjust it.
Source: https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/10/11/us-launches-promising-human-rights-reporting-tool
UGANDA'S COMPUTER MISUSE ACT FAULTY,
WILL CURTAIL FREEDOMS, SAY RIGHTS ACTIVISTS
Rights activists, journalists and
politicians have faulted the new law on Computer Misuse, arguing that it could
curtail press freedom and freedom of speech and expression.
On Thursday last week, Ugandan
President Yoweri Museveni signed into law the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Bill,
2022 that could see citizens who violate the privacy of others, or tarnish
their reputation online, sent to a five-year jail term.
The Bill, which was tabled by
Kampala Central Member of Parliament Muhammad Nsereko and passed by Parliament
last month, provides for a jail term for anybody who shares or sends unsolicited
offensive information or hate speech.
Amnesty International (AI) has since
called for the scrapping of what they called "draconian law aimed at
suppressing freedom of expression online."
Human Rights Network for
Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-U) questioned the motive, with Executive Director
Robert Ssempala saying the law is an attempt to curtail freedoms.
According to Mr Paul Kimumwe, the
senior programme officer at Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East
and Southern Africa (CIPESA), a research and policy centre, there are already
provisions in other laws dealing with hate speech, defamation and children’s
rights.
Dr Livingstone Ssewanyana, from
Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, says the new law is bad.
Mr Ssewanyana added that human
rights organisations are considering challenging it in the constitutional court
According to Nation Media
Group journalist Raymond Mujuni, the law will also affect journalism work,
especially investigative journalism.
ACCESS TO JUSTICE PROCESSES: TEARS
AS ARMY COURT DENIES BAIL TO 31 NUP SUPPORTERS
A sombre mood covered the Makindye-based
army court as 31 National Unity Platform (NUP) party supporters were denied
bail.
The General Court
Martial chaired by Brig Gen Freeman Mugabe declined to grant the accused people
bail, pending the hearing of their case, reasoning that the sureties are not
substantial, applicants did not prove that they have fixed places of aboard and
the offences against them are serious in nature.
However, prosecution
led by Lt Gift Mubehamwe asked court to dismiss the bail application on grounds
that the sureties presented were not substantial as they could not ably
identify themselves.
Prosecution alleges
that between November 2020 and May 12, 2021, in diverse areas of Jinja, Mbale,
Kireka, Nakulabye, Kawempe, Nateete and Kampala Central, the accused were in
possession of 13 pieces of explosive devices, a monopoly of the Defence Forces.
CONCLUDING
REMARKS
1. HRDs and the general public are urged to continue observing the prevention guidelines against Ebola. The recent proclamation of the lockdown of Mubende and Kassanda districts should signal that should the spread escalate, the entire country could be taken back into another lockdown.
2. With the ongoing discussions
regarding the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act, 2022, which President Museveni
signed into law last week, it’s important to take into account that any law passed,
should be at the center of protecting and promoting the rights and freedoms of
citizens. Therefore dialogue between State and non-state actors is encouraged to
ensure that both parties fulfill their respective roles in the protection
and promotion of human rights.
3. The launch of the Human Rights Reporting tool named the Human Rights Reporting Gateway by the US Government is highly welcomed as this will support HRDs and citizens in effectively and swiftly reporting any human rights abuses witnessed. HRDs can access the tool here: https://hrgshr.state.gov/
Thank you
for reading. All the best
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