HRCU WEEKLY UPDATES: ISSUE NO. 1 OF 2024
Dear reader,
Happy new year!
and welcome to 2024
As
our doors officially open in 2024, we not only invite you to be a part of our
journey but also extend our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support and
belief in us over the years.
Welcome
to our very first edition of the weekly updates for the year 2024.
MUSEVENI REAPPOINTS
ELECTORAL COMMISSION CHAIRPERSON BYABAKAMA FOR ANOTHER TERM
President
Yoweri Museveni has reappointed Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon
Byabakama, and his deputy, Hajat Aisha Lubega for another seven-year term.
Byabakama
was first appointed chairperson of the commission in November 2016 and now in a
January 5 letter to the speaker of parliament, Museveni has awarded Byabakama
and Lubega another term in office. The new faces at the commission include
Robert Kasule Sebunya, a former MP for Kyandondo North in the 9th parliament
and later Nansana Municipality in the 10th parliament. Sebunya has been working
as head of the delivery unit at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
The
other new face is Dr Sallie Simba Kayunga, a political science lecturer at
Makerere University. Museveni also appointed former Kioga county MP, Anthony
Okello to join the commission. Museveni also reappointed former Kajara MP,
Stephen Tashobya to the commission. He will serve his last term on the
commission at the end of the seven-year term. Tashobya is a lawyer by
profession.
The
outgoing commission had documented some of the lessons based on a review of
EC’s performance in the past 5 years. One of those is the need for increased
focus on civic and voter education as well as the dissemination of information
through the community. The lack of civic education was raised as an issue of
concern during the last elections.
The
team also suggested the need to streamline the commission’s engagement with the
National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), ministry of Local
Government and ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development concerning
citizen data, creation of administrative units and workers register.
LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS
EXTENDED ANOTHER 180 DAYS
The
term of office for Local Council 1 and 2 and Women Councils has been extended
for another 180 days, until early July 2024.
This
follows the tabling of the statutory instruments providing for the extension,
on the floor of the House in a sitting held on Tuesday, 09 January 2024.
While
chairing the sitting, Speaker Anita Among tasked the Minister for Local
Government to lay the statutory Instruments for House approval, noting that
they were seconded by Cabinet prior to the expiry of the extended term of
office for the Local Councils on 05 January 2024.
She
observed that on 28 July 2023, Government initially tabled a statutory
instrument extending their term of office for six months.
This
was attributed to lack of funds to hold elections for new office bearers at the
time.
KATANGA MURDER: ACCUSED
DAUGHTER NKWANZI FINALLY PRESENTS SELF TO COURT
Martha
Nkwanzi, a daughter to the late businessman Henry Katanga was remanded to
Luzira prison for allegedly destroying evidence in the murder of her father.
Nkwanzi
surprisingly surrendered herself to Nakawa chief magistrate, Erias Kakooza on
Wednesday afternoon. The same court on Monday issued a warrant of arrest
against her after she was again a no-show in court.
During
the court session on Monday last week, the defense team, represented by
McDusman Kabega, along with lawyers; Bruce Musinguzi and Jet Tumwebaze, stated
that Nkwanzi is recuperating at Roswell Hospital following a childbirth.
The
prosecution, however, challenged the information presented, labelling it
hearsay, and maintained the necessity of a warrant for Nkwanzi's arrest citing
repeated failure to appear in court without justifiable reasons.
Court
heard that on November 2, 2023, at Mubya Chwa II, Nakawa Division, Kampala
city, knowing that diverse things at the scene of crime may be required in
evidence in a judicial proceeding, Nkwanzi and her other sister Patricia
Kankwanzi removed or destroyed them or rendered them illegible or
undecipherable or incapable of identification with intent thereby to prevent
them from being used in evidence.
COURT BLOCKS ULS MEETING
ON TILENGA CASE
High
Court in Kampala last week issued an order blocking Uganda Law Society Extra
Ordinary Meeting seeking to discuss alleged gross misconduct in the management
of Tilenga Oil Case.
According
to the directives issued on January 11th 2024 by the Acting Registrar High Court Civil
Division, Simon Kintu Zirintusa, the order is to stay in place until the
determination of an application challenging the legality of the said meeting.
Friday's
meeting was intended to deliberate among other the alleged gross judicial
misconduct exhibited by Mubende High Court Judge Jesse Byaruhanga Rugyema
concerning the Tilenga oil land dispute case.
In
the petition to the court, the Attorney General asserts, that the Uganda Law
Society (ULS) lacks the appropriate jurisdiction to address issues related to
judicial misconduct.
In
his evidence before Court, the Attorney General whose application has been
supported by an affidavit of a State Attorney, Jackline Amusugut, he wants the
extra Ordinary Meeting not to take place saying; he was not notified prior to
the convening of the same yet he is a member of the ULS Council.
Source:
https://capitalradio.co.ug/news/2024-01-12-court-blocks-uls-meeting-on-tilenga-case/
NAM SUMMIT: KCCA
TERMINATES 248 STAGES AHEAD OF NAM AND G77+CHINA SUMMITS
The
Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has closed 248 commercial motorcycles
(bodaboda) stages ahead of Non- Aligned Movement (NAM) and G77+ China summits.
The
KCCA Spokesperson, Daniel Muhumuza said bodaboda riders in Makindye and Central
divisions are the most affected as they intend to ensure safe and swift
movement of NAM and G77+ China summits.
The
restricted roads in Makindye include Lukuli, Mobutu, Gaba, Prince Badru,
Kakungulu, and others.
In
the Central division, the restricted roads for bodaboda riders include Nile,
Avenue, Parliamentary Avenue, George Street, Kafu, Ssezibwa and Yusuf Lule.
According
to Muhumuza, bodaboda riders will however be allowed to use the restricted
roads but should not be attempted to park anywhere on these roads.
REGIONAL UPDATE
BURUNDI CLOSES RWANDA
BORDER IN NEW ROW OVER REBELS
Burundi
said on Thursday last week it had closed the border with Rwanda, nearly two
weeks after accusing its neighbour of supporting rebels who carried out attacks
on its soil.
Burundi
says the RED-Tabara group staged an attack on December 22 near the border with
the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), killing 20 people, including women and
children.
President
Evariste Ndayishimiye has since accused Rwanda of backing the rebels -- a claim
denied by the Rwandan government.
In
Kigali, the government said it "regrets the unilateral closure of the
border by Burundi".
"This
unfortunate decision will restrict the free circulation of people and goods
between the two countries and violate the principles of regional cooperation
and the integration of the East Africa Community," a statement said.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATE
ISRAEL SAYS SOUTH AFRICA
DISTORTING THE TRUTH IN ICJ GENOCIDE CASE
Israel
said South Africa has distorted the truth in its case at the International
Court of Justice, where it is accusing Israel of genocide.
South
Africa had presented "a sweeping counter-factual description" of the
Israel-Palestinian conflict, Israeli lawyer Tal Becker told the ICJ.
South
Africa says Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians in its war
in Gaza. It is also asking the court to order Israel to halt its military
activity.
The
ICJ is the United Nations' highest court. Its rulings are theoretically legally
binding on parties to the ICJ - which include Israel and South Africa - but are
not enforceable.
Israel
delivered its defence to the court a day after South Africa presented its case.
Outside
the legal battleground of the ICJ, police created cordons to ensure rival
groups were kept far apart.
On
one side, Palestinian flags were waved beneath a big screen streaming a live
feed from the courtroom. Banners were unfurled showing images of Nelson
Mandela, referencing parallels drawn by South Africa's legal team between the
situation in Gaza and the former apartheid era in South Africa.
A
few hundred metres away, a symbolic Sabbath table had been laid. Photographs
were attached to the back of empty chairs. These show some of the more than 130
Israelis who are still being held hostage by Hamas, which is banned as a
terrorist group in the US, UK, EU and elsewhere.
South
Africa asserts that Israel is in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention, to
which both states are signatories, and which commits parties to prevent
genocide from happening.
Israel
has been waging a war against Hamas, Gaza's ruling group, since 7 October, when
hundreds of Hamas gunmen invaded Israel, killing about 1,300 people and taking
some 240 others back to Gaza as hostages. Members of the hostages' families
were in the ICJ courtroom to hear Israel state its case.
Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67944903
CONCLUDING REMARKS
1.
The
appointment or reappointment of an Electoral Commission Chairperson in Uganda
is a critical decision that can impact the democratic health of the country,
the credibility of elections, and the overall stability and peace within the nation.
It is important for such appointments to be conducted in a transparent and
inclusive manner to maintain public trust in the electoral process.
2.
NAM
emphasizes principles such as non-alignment, peace, and cooperation. By hosting
the summit, Uganda can play a role in promoting these values on the
international stage and contribute to discussions on resolving global conflicts
and challenges.
3.
Judicial
independence and transparency are cornerstones of a fair and just legal system.
In murder cases, where the stakes are high, these principles are particularly
important for safeguarding human rights, ensuring accountability, and
maintaining public trust in the judicial process.
4. Maintaining strong border relations between Rwanda and Burundi is essential for nurturing political stability, promoting economic development, enhancing regional security, and stability.
Thank
you for reading. Happy new week
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