HRCU WEEKLY UPDATES: ISSUE NO. 5 OF 2024

 

THE WEEK OF 12^TH TO 18^TH FEBRUARY 2024

Dear reader, welcome to this new week!

As we embark on this the week, welcome to yet another edition of HRCU’s weekly contextual updates where we explore the intricate of rights, human rights defenders, equality, and social justice.

In this week’s edition, please expect to find thought-provoking insights, inspiring stories, and meaningful discussions that shed light on the diverse facets of human rights issues and the working environment of human rights defenders in Uganda and around the world. Thank you for joining us on this important and enlightening path.

Enjoy the read!

RIGHT TO EDUCATION: 2023 UCE RESULTS OUT, PASS RATE INCREASES

The 2023 Uganda certificate of education examination results were released last week by the Minister in charge of Education, Janet Kataha Museveni, at Nakasero state house.

The results showed that the pass rate had gone up.  Out of 349459 candidates who sat exams, over 329900 candidates have progressed to post-UCE.

64,782 candidates scored division one, 85,566 scored division two, 83,545 in division three, 112,923 in division four, 14,879 have failed.

The results further showed that the failure rate has also dropped by 0.5 percent. This means that 329,939 (95.9%) of the learners who presented themselves for the 2023 examination can progress to the post-UCE level.

The overall performance, Male candidates outperformed females, however Female candidates performed better than males in English Language.

In the other subjects, males perform better, with the differences being very significant in History, Geography, the Sciences and Commerce. In Chemistry, however, the male candidates show better performance in the higher grades but, overall, a slightly higher percentage of females obtained at least a Pass.

Source: https://capitalradio.co.ug/news/2024-02-16-2023-uce-examination-results-out-pass-rates-increases/

HUMAN RIGHTS AND REFUGEES: REFUGEE INFLUX OVERWHELMS KYANGWALI SETTLEMENT CAMP

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) started relocating about 700 refugees who entered Kikuube district from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to different refugee settlements.

The UN refugee agency is currently hosting these displaced people at Kagoma reception centre as thousands of refugees continue to cross the dangerous waters of Lake Albert as they flee fresh fighting in Eastern Congo between the rebels and the Congolese government forces.

According to Frank Walusimbi, the UNHCR spokesperson, since January, over 15,000 new arrivals of refugees with over 3000 from the DRC have been registered in Kikuube district.

Last week in Parliament, the Leader of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, asked the government to engage other neighbouring countries to support Uganda in hosting refugees.

This is after the Vice Chairperson of Committee on Equal Opportunities, Dorcus Acen presented a report on the state of refugees and refugee host communities in Uganda where the committee noted that the influx of refugees had led to encroachment on wetlands in the various settlements.

Source: https://www.kfm.co.ug/news/refugee-influx-overwhelms-kyangwali-settlement-camp.html

FAIR HEARING AND TRIAL: TERROR SUSPECTS CASE COMMITTED TO HIGH COURT FOR TRIAL

The Director of Public Prosecutions Jane Frances Abodo has directed that the trial of 19 people who are suspected to have manufactured, placed and detonated explosives in Kampala, Wakiso and Mpigi districts last year can proceed before the International Crimes Division of the High court.

This is after papers containing evidence sending the suspects to the High court has been tendered before Buganda Road Court Grade one magistrate Asuman Muhumuza.

According to the DPP, she has sufficient evidence in form of call data and phone records showing that the 19 suspects were in communication with the three suicide bombers.

They are Isaac Matovu who blew himself up in a swift bus along Lungula Mpigi,  Uthman Manisur who killed himself at CPS Kampala  and Abudallah Wanjusi who blew himself up  at  Jubilee House near Parliament.

In order to prove the nexus of the accused to the deceased suicide bombers, the DPP contends in her committal papers that at the trial ,   she will adduce several exhibits  including a blue chest bag containing Improvised Explosive devices that was recovered from the House of  one of  the suspect ;  Nakato  Annet Nakibiringo   who  later confessed that it was supposed  to be used in March 2022 as panic and fear  had relatively calm down among the public.

Court has further   heard that documentary evidence in form of confession statements where the suspects implicated themselves for aiding and abetting terrorism by mainly financing, transporting and harbouring terrorists will be tendered in court,

Police report forms that confirm that survivor victims were treated for injuries caused by pieces of fragments of sharp objects, post-mortem reports indicating that the deceased died of explosive objects and doctor’s reports showing that the 19 suspects are found to be of a sane mind to stand trial will also be produced in court.

Source: https://capitalradio.co.ug/news/2024-02-14-terror-suspects-case-committed-to-high-court-for-trial/

SEPARATION OF POWERS/INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY: LAWYERS, JUDICIARY PLOT TO SOLVE DEEPENING IMPASSE

The feud between the Uganda Law Society (ULS) and judicial officers over the independence of the judiciary continues to deepen.

URN learned that both parties are preparing for the Bar Bench Forum organized by the ULS this week on Wednesday at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala. The hybrid (physical and virtual) forum is expected to provide participants with the flexibility to engage according to their preferences.

Due to limited slots for physical attendance, reservations will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis, as stated in the invitation from the ULS secretariat to all lawyers. The conflict stems from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s letter dated December 7, 2023, to Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo concerning the management of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) property case involving businessman Justus Kyabahwa.

Museveni expressed concern about a judge issuing an order to attach a national mosque. In response to the letter, the ULS called for an extraordinary annual general meeting on February 6, 2024, to discuss the judiciary's independence. Additionally, ULS previously organized a meeting to address concerns regarding the conduct of Hoima High court judge Jesse Byaruhanga Rugyema in the Tilenga Oil case.

Furthermore, the Boycourters stressed the importance of defending the judiciary's independence and impartiality, calling for action from members of parliament, the Judicial Service Commission, Judiciary Council, and civil society organizations.

Source: https://observer.ug/index.php/news/headlines/80578-lawyers-judiciary-plot-to-solve-deepening-impasse

REGIONAL UPDATE

INTER-STATE RELATIONS: DRC ACCUSES RWANDA AS BOMBS HIT GOMA AIRPORT

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has accused neighbouring Rwanda of orchestrating a bomb attack on its airport in Goma city.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning around 02:00 am when two 81 MM mortar bombs, mounted on commercial drones, struck Goma International Airport in North Kivu province, causing damage to a Sukhoi-25 fighter jet.

DRC suspects that the bombs could have been launched from Kibumba in Nyiragongo territory near the Rwandan border, where the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels are reportedly stationed with heavy weapons.

Lt Col Ndjike Kaiko Guillaume, spokesperson for the military in North Kivu province in a statement on Saturday accused Rwanda of the attack. He emphasized that the attack violated the territorial limits of the DRC but noted that airport activities continued normally on Saturday despite the incident.

"During the night from Friday to Saturday, February 17, at 2 am, the attack drones of the Rwandan army, which left Rwandan territory, violated the territorial limits of the DRC and targeted the aircraft of the Armed Forces of the DRC with regard to the trajectories followed by the shots of these drones."

The incident coincides with a mini-summit being held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to address the crisis between DRC and Rwanda, with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his Congolese counterpart Felix Tshisekedi in physical attendance.

UN forces have been in the DRC for nearly 25 years but have been accused of failing to protect civilians from armed groups. Meanwhile, fierce fighting between the M23 rebels and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) soldiers, under their umbrella, Wazalendo (Patriots), and troops under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is ongoing in the locality of Mweso, Bashali Mokoto grouping in the Masisi territory, specifically in Mbuhi, located less than 3 kilometres from the Mweso commercial centre, Bushenge, and Pilote.

Source: https://observer.ug/index.php/news/headlines/80577-drc-accuses-rwanda-as-bombs-hit-goma-airport

INTERNATIONAL UPDATE

THE CALL TO PROTECT LIFE: PAPUA NEW GUINEA AMBUSH: MORE THAN 60 SHOT DEAD IN HIGHLANDS REGION

The victims were shot dead during a tribal dispute in the Enga province over the weekend, a national police spokesman told the BBC.

The Highlands area has long struggled with violence, but these killings are believed to be the worst in years.

An influx of illegal firearms have made clashes more deadly and fuelled a cycle of violence.

Police started collecting bodies at the scene near the town of Wabag - roughly 600km (373 miles) northwest of the capital Port Moresby.

"This is by far the largest [killing] I've seen in Enga, maybe in all of Highlands as well," Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Acting Supt George Kakas told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

"We're all devastated, we're all mentally stressed out. It's really hard to comprehend."

Police received graphic videos and photos purporting to be from the scene, showing bodies loaded onto a truck, say media outlets.

Escalating tribal conflict - often over the distribution of land and wealth - led to a three-month lockdown in Enga last July, during which police imposed a curfew and travel restrictions.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68302051

CONCLUDING REMARKS

1.   The Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) results hold significant importance in the country's education system and for individual students. They influence access to further education, employment opportunities, national development efforts, personal fulfillment, and community expectations. Therefore, UCE results hold significant importance for students, families, educational institutions, employers, and the nation as a whole.

2.   The need to balance control over refugee influx with the promotion of their rights is a critical challenge faced by nations like Uganda. While controlling refugee influxes is necessary for managing borders and ensuring security, it is essential to uphold their rights and provide them with protection and support.

3.   Committing suspects to the High Court signifies the formalization of charges against them. This is a critical stage in the legal process where the prosecution presents evidence and arguments to establish that there is sufficient reason to believe the accused committed the alleged crime. It marks the transition from the investigative phase to the trial phase of the criminal proceedings.

4.   The collaboration between lawyers and judges is essential for upholding the rule of law, ensuring fair and impartial adjudication, promoting access to justice, and advancing the development of legal principles and jurisprudence. Their cooperative efforts contribute to the effective functioning of the legal system and the protection of individual rights and liberties.

5.   Peace and collaboration between Congo and Rwanda are crucial for promoting stability in the Great Lakes region of Africa. Historically, conflicts and tensions between the two countries have had spillover effects, destabilizing neighboring nations and exacerbating regional instability. By fostering peaceful relations, Congo and Rwanda can contribute to broader peace and security in Central and East Africa.

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