HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE: ISSUE NO. 14 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 17^TH TO 23^RD APRIL 2023

Dear reader,

Welcome to this new week! We hope and pray that all is well with you and your loved ones.

Please receive and read through some of developments which transpired from last week within the human rights context. HRCU continues to provide you with an insight into the human rights situation in Uganda, highlighting the progress made, as well as the ongoing challenges that need to be addressed.

Some of the documented developments include the following:

MUSLIMS MARK AND CELEBRATE EID-AL-FITR

HRCU welcomes back all Muslims from the celebrations of Eid al-Fitr which occurred on Friday April 21, 2023. During the celebrations, the Grand Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Mubajje prayed for peace to prevail in war-tone Muslim countries, especially neighboring Sudan, and called for ceasefire.

Photo: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/pictorial/how-muslims-celebrated-eid-in-uganda-4207896

ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL, 2023: MUSEVENI DECLINES TO SIGN ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL, RETURNS IT TO PARLIAMENT

President Yoweri Museveni declined to sign the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023 and sent it back to Parliament for "strengthening." Museveni's decision was announced late Thursday April 20, 2023 after he met with lawmakers in his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, almost all of whom supported the bill.

The meeting ended with a decision to return the bill to parliament "with proposals for its improvement," a statement said. It was not clear what the president's recommendations were. The Ugandan parliament passed the bill on March 21, and the president must sign it for it to become law.

Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda — as it is in more than 30 of Africa's 54 countries — under a colonial-era law criminalizing sex acts "against the order of nature." The punishment is life imprisonment.

The bill has widespread support in Uganda, including among church leaders. It was introduced by a lawmaker who said his goal was to punish the "promotion, recruitment and funding" of LGBTQ activities in the country. Only two of 389 legislators present for the voting session opposed the bill.

Source: https://observer.ug/news/headlines/77521-museveni-declines-to-sign-anti-homosexuality-bill-returns-it-to-parliament

KAMPALA POTHOLES: MUSEVENI ORDERS RELEASE OF SH6 BILLION FOR KAMPALA ROADS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni ordered the Ministry of Finance to release with immediate effect six billion shillings for the rehabilitation of roads in the Capital City, Kampala Capital.

Museveni issued the directive last week while meeting a delegation from Serbia at State House Entebbe to discuss bilateral trade relations between Uganda and Serbia.

“I now direct the Ministry of Finance to urgently release the quarterly contribution to KCCA of 6 billion Shillings for pothole feeling repairs and maintenance of roads. I have been told that only 30 percent of this money has been released in this financial year causing roads outside the ADB project to fall into bad disrepair with attendant problems with traffic jams,” said Museveni.

He also directed that the KCCA Executive Director gives the general public an account on progress om this matter. The 41 roads under the African Development Bank City Project roads will continue for the next four years to improve the City transport.

Museveni’s directive follows a public outcry that led to an online protest against the sorrow state of road in Kampala. Ugandans led by Dr. Spire Ssentongo, a cartoonist and lecturer of Philosophy at Makerere University Kampala held an online exhibition of the potholes in Kampala.

During the exhibition held on Monday, Ugandans posted on twitter pictures of different potholes in their respective localities around Kampala. The exhibition was intended to expose the dire situation in which the roads are in and prompt the City Authorities and government at large to take action.

FILE: Museveni launches road equipment in 2017 

Source: https://www.independent.co.ug/museveni-orders-release-of-sh6-billion-for-kampala-roads /

THE RIGHT TO FOOD: UGANDA’S FOOD SAFETY CRISIS LEAVES MANY AT RISK OF DISEASE AND DEATH

Uganda urgently needs to check the food safety crisis or risk the burden of illness and deaths dues to the consumption of toxic food and beverages. A number of experts warn that the food we consume is getting contaminated right from the garden, storage, markets, and at preparation.

The experts in nutrition, food rights advocacy, and consumer protection seem to agree that if the food one eats is not safe, then it is not food. Professor, Archileo Kaaya from Makerere University’s Department of Food Technology and Nutrition says Uganda’s food safety management system is inadequate and therefore exposes people to unsafe food on the market and eating places.

Professor Kaaya was one the speakers at the just concluded Conference on Human Rights to Adequate Food hosted at Makerere University. He and other experts there is poor food handling at the different stages along the food chain.

David Kabanda, the Executive Director of the Center for Food and Adequate Living Rights, a not-for-profit organisation advocating for human-rights-based approach to food, nutrition, trade and Investment systems says that government should examine the country’s food management systems and take immediate action to remedy the inadequacies.

Nobert Mao delivering his remarks during the #2ndRight2FoodConfUg. Photo: @FRAUGANDA 

Source: https://www.independent.co.ug/ugandas-food-safety-crisis-leaves-many-at-risk-of-disease-and-death/

PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF WOMENS RIGHTS: NORWEGIAN GOVT GIVES SHS18.6BN SUPPORT TO UGANDA

The Norwegian government has given out a grant of 5 million US dollars which is approximately Sh18.6 billion to facilitate the implementation of a four-year project which is intended to promote issues affecting women in the country.

The project code-named ‘Women Peace and Security Program 2022-2026’, will be implemented by the UN-Women and it is meant to address the existing emerging issues such as the escalating violence and extremism against women, election-related conflicts, and among other issues hindering women’s development in the country. The Minister for Gender, Labour, and social Development, Betty Amongi while officiating at the launch of the project said, women are key drivers in promoting peace and security in the country therefore, it is a mistake to neglect them.

She said the government is committed to enacting laws and policies which protect women’s rights.

Gender minister, Betty Amongi (center) with stakeholders at the launch of Women, Peace and Security program financed by government of Norway. PHOTO/Courtesy

Source: https://www.kfm.co.ug/news/norwegian-govt-gives-shs18-6bn-support-to-uganda.html

THE RIGHT TO FOOD: GOVT NEEDS SHS660 BILLION TO COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY

The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) in Uganda announced that it needs Shs660 billion to tackle the country's food security challenges.

The recommendation was made by the Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries as part of the sector's budgetary allocations for the Financial Year 2023/2024.

The government relied on ad hoc measures to handle food crises, but the committee led by Ms Janet Okorie-Moe recommends the allocation of Shs400 billion to boost food production, establish silos, and food reserves.

The committee also suggested the allocation of Shs110 billion to refund government agencies that were tasked with increasing food production and animal feeds during the recent famine.

Shs150 billion was also recommended for large-scale farmers across the country that have already been profiled by MAAIF. Legislators commended the move to increase funding for the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), whose services they said were commendable.

A woman unwraps a biscuit for Ms. Lotyang Napwon Lopwoni, 69, of Longaroe Sub-county, Kotido District. PHOTO | TOBBIAS JOLLY OWINY 

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-needs-shs660-billion-to-combat-food-insecurity-4208132

CONCLUDING REMARKS

1.   The right to food is a fundamental human right that is recognized by various international and regional human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. As a signatory to these instruments, the government of Uganda is obligated to ensure that its citizens have access to adequate food.

2.   Bad roads can have a significant impact on the enjoyment of human rights, including the right to life, health, education, work, and an adequate standard of living. Potholed roads can cause accidents that result in injury or death. This violates the right to life, as protected by international human rights law. Therefore, the government of Uganda have a responsibility to ensure that roads are well-maintained to prevent these violations of human rights.

3.   Promoting women's rights in Uganda is essential for achieving gender equality, reducing poverty, improving health outcomes, increasing political participation, and promoting sustainable development. Governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector must work together to ensure that women's rights are protected and promoted at all levels. Therefore, programmes like the ‘Women Peace and Security Program 2022-2026’ launched by UN Women in Uganda are crucial in implementing and realizing the aforementioned.

Thank you for reading! See you next week