HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE: ISSUE NO. 32 OF 2023
THE WEEK OF 20TH TO 26TH NOVEMBER 2023
Dear reader,
Welcome to this week!
HRCU invites you in this exploration of the
human defending spirit and honors the courage of those who dare to stand up and
advocate for the rights and fundamental freedoms for all. Human rights
defenders are the champions of equality, challenging injustice wherever it may
lurk. Their dedication to a world where every individual is treated with
dignity fuels the flame of progress.
Last week on Wednesday 22nd
November, HRCU with its partners of Uganda National NGO Forum and Uganda
National NGO Bureau held the quarterly dialogue meeting between the Minister of
Internal Affairs and NGO leader from the oil and gas sector. The meeting was
chaired by Hon. Kahinda Otafiire, the Minister of Internal Affairs. Some of the
key outcomes are highlighted in the links below:
https://youtu.be/CEqaOXNprHk?si=tivVSiyc7B-e9ish
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: ACTIVISTS WANT
UGANDA’S GOVERNANCE ISSUES HIGHLIGHTED AT COP28
With the UN Conference of Parties (COP28) just two days away,
environmentalists under the National Association of Professional
Environmentalists (NAPE) are urging the Ugandan delegation to highlight issues
that relate to governance.
COP28 is the 28th annual UN climate meeting where governments
will discuss how to limit and prepare for future climate change.
The summit will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), between
November 30 and December 12.
According to Frank Muramuzi, the association’s Executive Director, the
discussion on governance is important because issues related to climate change
go hand in hand with decision-making that should be done at all levels.
“Climate change does not mean we
talk about the environment alone. We are talking about many things such as
financing, governance, among others. You cannot talk about the trees and swamps
without talking about good governance of the region and country,” he said.
The Conference will comprise of the 28th meeting of the Conference
of the Parties (COP 28), the fifth meeting of the COP serving as the
Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement, the 18th meeting of the COP
serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, the 59th
meeting of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation and the 59th meeting of the
Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice.
Source: https://www.kfm.co.ug/news/activists-want-ugandas-governance-issues-highlighted-at-cop28.html
CSOS DECRY ‘POOR IMPLEMENTATION’ OF
ANTI-CORRUPTION LAWS
As Uganda
prepares to join the rest of the world to commemorate the International
Anti-Corruption Day on December 9, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have
decried the alleged poor implementation of anti-corruption laws.
The day comes
at a time when Uganda is still facing a number of challenges in its war against
corruption. According to the report from the Inspectorate of Government, Uganda
loses over Shs9 trillion annually to corruption.
Speaking in a
joint press conference at Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU) offices in
Kampala, the programme manager, Uganda Debt Network, Christine Byiringiro,
noted the continued failure by the government to implement the existing Anti-corruption
laws has prompted the vice to escalate in the country which affects
development.
She asked the
government to address the weaknesses in the legal framework especially related
to asserting recovery and witness protection.
“Corruption continues to cause significant
challenges to good governance, economic development, and the overall well-being
of citizens. Its impact has effects on public service but ultimately on
economic growth,” Byiringiro said.
Source: https://www.kfm.co.ug/news/csos-decry-poor-implementation-of-anti-corruption-laws.html
RIGHT TO LIFE AND SECURITY OF PERSON: POLICE
JOINS CSOS TO END NEGATIVE CULTURAL PRACTICES IN AMUDAT
The Criminal Investigations desk of Amudat district has
partnered with the civil society organisations and development partners to
sensitize communities about the laws against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM),
child marriage, and Gender based violence (GBV).
The campaign
seeks to rally communities in the district not to fall victims out of ignorance
of the laws.Uganda government passed the Anti FGM Act in 2010, prohibiting the
FGM practice with tough punishments for the offenders.
The Amudat
district head of the investigations, Daniel Odongo, noted that despite the FGM
law in place, some individuals are still carrying out this practice
underground, warning that whoever will be caught, will face the bitter side of
the law.
According to
the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (2011), the FGM prevalence in the
country stands at 1.4 per cent, though the practice continues to be conducted
secretly, mainly in remote areas, where it remains hard to detect.
A person faces
up to 10 years in prison if found practicing FGM. If the cut results in death,
disability or infection with HIV/Aids, the punishment is life imprisonment.
Anyone who provides aid or takes part in the practice in any way is liable,
upon conviction, to a prison term of up to five years," Odongo noted.
According to
reports from UNFPA, the global target of eliminating FGM by 2030 will only be
achieved if efforts are intensified to address the problem.
JUDICIAL STANDARDS AND A CALL FOR COMPETENCE:
JUDICIARY WILL NOT ENTERTAIN INCOMPETENCE
Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera and Principle Judge Dr. Flavian
Nzeija have warned the newly appointed High Court judges against incompetence.
They asked those who find the job stressful to quit early enough or face the
boot.
Justice Buteera singled out late coming to work, failure to hear cases
and deliver judgments on time, lack of courtesy to fellow staff, advocates, and
court users, and outright abuse of judicial ethics.
Buteera said they are called “Your Lordships” because society expects of
them excellent conduct, and their actions should speak to that. He said that judgments were expected to be
delivered within sixty days following the close of the hearing.
Nzeija said there were also others who exhibited incompetence by disposing
of an unrealistic number of cases in an entire year.
“I will be breathing over your
neck about your performance. It’s early
for you to quit if you think it’s not your calling,” Nzeija said adding there
was no justification for someone disposing of merely six cases in an entire
year to be called “Your Lordship.”
Source: https://www.independent.co.ug/judiciary-will-not-entertain-incompetence/
REGIONAL UPDATE
SOMALIA JOINS THE EAST AFRICN COMMUNITY
Somalia last week on Friday officially became the eighth
member of the East African Community (EAC) after the EAC heads of state summit
endorsed its decade-long application to join the regional bloc.
The EAC leaders endorsed Somalia’s membership into the
bloc during the 23rd Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State held in
Tanzania’s northern city of Arusha. Somalia joins Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South
Sudan, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
“I am overjoyed
beyond expression as today we have opened a new chapter as a new member of the
EAC,” said President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Mohamud thanked the EAC heads of state for the trust they
extended to Somalia to approve its application to join the bloc, saying: “Let’s
work together for the prosperity of the regional bloc and the world in
general.”
Peter Mathuki,
the EAC secretary general, said the entry of Somalia will massively boost the
EAC’s geographical reach, boost its efforts to improve its multilateral and
fiscal standing, and the exploitation of Somalia’s blue economy resources such
as fish, boosting the regional economy.
Source: https://www.independent.co.ug/somalia-joins-the-east-african-community/
INTERNATIONAL
UPDATE
THE QUEST FOR
LIBERTY: MORE HOSTAGES SET TO BE FREED AS HOPES GROW FOR LONGER GAZA TRUCE
Qatar, Egypt, the US, the EU and Spain, are working to
extend the temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the
foreign minister of the Palestinian National Authority, Riyad al-Maliki, said
Al-Maliki said the truce could be extended for "one,
two, three days", but adds that no one knows how long exactly, the Reuters
news agency reports.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-middle-east-67539313
CONCLUDING REMARKS
1.
Uganda, like many other African nations, is vulnerable to
the impacts of climate change. These impacts include changes in rainfall
patterns, increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, and the
potential for negative effects on agriculture, water resources, and ecosystems.
2.
Poor implementation of Anti- corruption laws erodes
confidence in the rule of law and the protection and promotion of rights and
freedoms. When anti-corruption laws are not effectively enforced, it sends a
message that individuals, including those in positions of power, can act with
impunity, weakening the foundations of a fair and just legal system. Efforts to combat corruption
require a comprehensive approach that includes not only the enactment of strong
anti-corruption laws but also their diligent enforcement, public awareness, and
a commitment to fostering a culture of transparency and accountability.
3.
Negative cultural practices can have profound and
detrimental effects on human rights. While cultural diversity is a rich aspect
of human societies, certain practices within cultures may violate fundamental
rights and freedoms. Addressing the impact of negative cultural practices on
human rights requires a delicate balance between respecting cultural diversity
and safeguarding universal human rights. It involves fostering dialogue,
raising awareness, and working collaboratively to transform harmful practices
while preserving the positive aspects of diverse cultures. International human
rights frameworks provide a foundation for addressing and rectifying these
violations.
4.
In the pursuit of justice, the competence of those
entrusted with upholding the law is paramount. A judiciary marked by excellence
in knowledge, integrity, and ethical conduct is not just a necessity; it is the
bedrock of a fair and just society. Competence in the judiciary ensures that
legal professionals have the expertise to navigate complex legal issues,
leading to fair and timely resolutions of cases.
Thank you for reading. Wishing you a happy and
fruitful new week.
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