HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE: ISSUE NO.9 OF 2023
THE HUMAN RIGHTS
CENTRE UGANDA (HRCU)
WEEKLY UPDATE ON KEY
EMERGING HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES WITHIN THE WORKING ENVIROMENT OF HRDS IN UGANDA
THE WEEK OF 6TH
TO 12TH MARCH 2023
Dear
reader,
Welcome to
this new week!
As we navigate the complexities of
the modern world, emerging human rights issues are becoming increasingly
relevant and worthy of urgent attention. In this week's blog, we do explore
some of the most pressing issues within the working environment of HRDs in
Uganda ranging from the rights of marginalized groups to the impact of
technology on our fundamental freedoms especially after the just concluded
International Women’s Day celebrations which was celebrated on Wednesday March
8, 2023. HRCU congratulates women in Uganda and around the world for marking
the day - a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political
achievements of women, and a call to action for gender equality.
Please join us as we delve into the latest developments in human rights and consider how we can work together to create a more just and equitable society for all.
COUNTRY
MOURNS A GREAT HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER: JUSTICE KENNETH KAKURU DIES AT 65
Court of Appeal Justice Kenneth Kakuru has died at
the age of 65, Judiciary spokesperson Jamson Karemani confirmed.
He had been admitted to Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi
for stage four prostate cancer. The outspoken judge had in 2021 applied to
retire seven years earlier due to a health condition he was dealing with.
Justice Kakuru who gained fame for his
dissenting judgment in the ‘age limit case’, has been on the appellate court’s
bench since 2013 when he was tapped from private practice.
Source: https://www.kfm.co.ug/news/justice-kenneth-kakuru-dies-at-65.html
ANTI-HOM0SEXUALITY
BILL, 2023: GOVT OKAYS NEW ANTI-GAY BILL
Government cleared Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa to formally
undertake the due process of crafting and finalising the Anti-Homosexuality
Bill, 2023, that is intended to prohibit same-sex relations in Uganda.
Mr Basalirwa got the green light after the Ministry of Finance formally
accorded him the Certificate of Financial Implication and consequently allowed
him to table the Bill for first reading yesterday.
As he tabled the Bill, Mr Basalirwa reiterated last week’s position that
the Bill is meant to insulate communities in Uganda against same sex practices.
Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua was quick to assure yesterday’s plenary
that the government was not under any form of pressure to process the said law.
The processing of the Bill that was first read
yesterday commenced last week after Speaker Among led Parliament in endorsing
Mr Basalirwa, who also doubles as the President of the opposition Justice Forum
(JEEMA), to start drafting it.
The Bill has since been forwarded to the Legal and
Parliamentary Affairs Committee chaired by Gomba West MP Robina Rwakoojo for
further scrutiny.
In the committee, MPs will entertain and accommodate views before a report will
be prepared for tabling before the House.
Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-okays-new-anti-gay-bill-4153176
UN
RIGHTS CHIEF CALLS FOR FRESH THINKING TO TACKLE GLOBAL CHALLENGES
The United Nations (UN) rights chief said that the
current complex challenges require fresh thinking and bolder political leadership
to address abuses and find solutions.
Presenting his annual global report to the Human
Rights Council, Volker Türk noted that the human rights landscape is compounded
by conflict, discrimination, poverty, shrinking civic spaces, and the emergence
of new human rights challenges such as the rise of artificial intelligence and
surveillance.
He added that fresh thinking, political leadership,
renewed commitments, and dramatically scaled-up financing, with the centrality
of human rights at their core, are urgently needed to meet these challenges.
Turk said that to face the challenges of structural
injustice and inequalities, world leaders need to build economies that build
trust in government and advance people’s rights and well-being.
Source: https://www.kfm.co.ug/news/un-rights-chief-calls-for-fresh-thinking-to-tackle-global-challenges.html
URSB
STARTS INTEGRATING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS ASPECTS IN INSTITUTIONS
The copyright owners are bound to benefit from their
products following Uganda Registration Services Bureaus' (URSB) decision to
begin integrating the intellectual property rights aspects in all government
institutions and private institutions.
URSB explained that the move aims at ensuring that
everyone’s brand is protected and paid for by those who use it.
Over the past decades, the protection of
intellectual property rights (IPRs) has undergone tremendous changes fostered on
the one hand by a widening of the range of products and technologies covered by
proprietary rights and on the other hand, by policy shifts that have initiated
a move towards globally harmonized standards of protection.
In a statement issued by URSB following the end of
National Intellectual Property Week, the Registrar General, Mercy K.
Kainobwisho said Uganda has a notable advantage of a robust legal framework
that allows for the protection of a multitude of different IPRs, a legal
framework that recognizes the rights of individuals as well as institutions to
own and, manage their rights.
The overall objective of National Intellectual
Property Week was to highlight the role of IP as a policy tool for economic
development, general IP awareness, Institutional IP policies and their
implementation, technology transfer and appropriate technology.
10 WOMEN ARRESTED AT
KALERWE OVER STATE KIDNAP PROTEST
Police
on Wednesday March 8, 2023 arrested 10 women who were demonstrating against the
continued detention of opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters.
The arrested were Kyeyune Stella, Nakiku Allen, Namatovu Milly, Nankya Fiona,
Sselonga Rukia, and Bulungi Jackie. Others are Nantume Allen, Sylvia Ramuto,
Apio Flavia, and Nyanzi Elizabeth.
They
held placards reading, 'stop torture', 'Free my husband', and 'We want equality
for Mrs. Olivia Lutaya". The women who had chained themselves were
arrested from Kalwere market as they headed to the city centre.
Nantume said that her husband Yasin Ssekitoleko was detained two years ago, and
was the sole breadwinner for the family. Nantume adds that she can't celebrate
Women's Day when her husband was abducted by security agencies. Nakibirango
says that her close friend, Olivia Lutaya has been in prison for close to two
years.
Lutaya and 31 people are facing trial at the army court for being in illegal
possession of 13 pieces of explosive devices. The state alleges that the crime
was committed between November 2020 and May 2021 in areas of Jinja, Mbale,
Kireka, Nakulabye, Kawempe, Natete, and Kampala Central.
Source:
https://observer.ug/news/headlines/77076-10-women-arrested-at-kalerwe-over-state-kidnap-protest
RIGHTS
BODY DENOUNCES ‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL’ ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL
Parliament
should abandon plans to enact an anti-homosexuality law, a leading human rights
organisation has said in a report that casts doubt on the constitutionality and
relevance of the move.
The
Bill, if enacted into law, would violate the Constitution, which guarantees
and protects key human rights, including the non-derogable rights to dignity
and freedom from torture, inhuman and degrading treatment, and the right to a
fair hearing, Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF) argues in a
detailed legal and human rights analysis of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023.
Human
Rights Watch, in a statement, warned that if adopted, the law would violate
multiple fundamental rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and
association, privacy, equality, and non-discrimination.
HRAPF
said the Bill constitutes a significant step backward for Uganda’s battle
against child sexual abuse and HIV/Aids.
The
organisation urged civil society actors and partners, including other
governments and UN mechanisms, to engage Parliament and other organs of the
government not to enact this law.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
1. HRCU expresses condolences to the
Judiciary and the people of Uganda for the passing of Justice Kenneth Kakuru.
The late served his country with distinction, and his contributions to the
judiciary will be remembered for a long time. It is a great loss to the country,
and we hope that his family and loved ones find comfort during this difficult
time.
2. International Women's Day provides
an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in advancing gender equality and
to call for continued efforts to address persistent challenges that women and girls
face. It is a reminder that gender equality is not only a matter of justice and
human rights, but also a precondition for good life.
3. The importance of intellectual
property rights lies in the fact that they encourage and reward innovation and
creativity. By protecting the rights of creators, intellectual property rights
incentivize individuals and companies to invest in research and development,
which can lead to new technologies, products, and services that benefit society
as a whole. Intellectual
property rights play a crucial role in promoting innovation, encouraging the
transfer of technology, and creating a fair and competitive business
environment. The right
to freedom of expression and assembly is a fundamental human right that is
protected by international human rights law.
4. The right to freedom of expression
and assembly is a fundamental human right that is protected by international
human rights law and Article 29 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda.
The Government of Uganda has a duty to protect these rights and ensure that
individuals are able to exercise them without fear of reprisal or persecution.
This among may include protecting the rights of individuals to peacefully
assemble, express their opinions, and participate in the democratic processes.
Thank
you for reading. Happy new week
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