HRCU WEEKLY UPDATES: ISSUE NO. 15 OF 2024

 

 

THE WEEK OF 3^RD TO 9^TH JUNE 2024

Dear reader,

Welcome to this week's edition of HRCU’s Blog through which focus is placed on the key emerging human rights issues and the working environment of human rights defenders (HRDs) in Uganda.

Welcome back from the commemoration and celebration of Heroes’ Day! Let each of us continue to strive for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms every time, everywhere, for everyone. That is how we can make this world a better place to live in.

Some of the key issues that emerged last week are documented below.

MBARARA CITY REGISTERS OVER 1000 NEW HIV INFECTIONS IN SIX MONTHS

Mbarara City residents were worried about the drastic increase in the number of new HIV infections reported over the last six months.

According to the City HIV/Aids Focal Person, Dorcus Twinabeitu, during the period between December 2023 and May 2024, they have recorded over 1,000 new infections in Mbarara.

Addressing journalists during a media training and dissemination of HIV prevention messages in western Uganda organised by Uganda Aids Commission, Twinabeitu said the biggest threat is with young girls.

She noted that between October last year and March 2024 the number of females who tested positive were more than 600 while the males were 400.

She said of these, the number of adolescent and young girls between ages of 20-24 is 185, while the 25-29 year olds are 158.

Twinabeitu attributed the surge in HIV cases in the City to poverty, drug abuse especially alcohol and domestic violence among others.

According to Uganda Aids Commission (UAC) HIV prevalence in Mbarara City stands at 8.1 percent which is much higher than the national prevalence that is at 5.1 percent.

Source: https://www.kfm.co.ug/news/mbarara-city-registers-over-1000-new-hiv-infections-in-six-months.html

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT SET TO HEAR 14 PETITIONS IN JUNE

The seven Justices of the Constitutional Court are set to hear 14 petitions within 3 days from 10th to 12th June.

According to the cause list signed by the Deputy Registrar Susanne Susanne Okeny, the judges to handle the petitions are Justices; Irene Mulyagonja, Christopher Gashirabake, Eva Luswata, Oscar Kihika, Margaret Tibulya, Moses Kawumi Kazibwe, and Dr. Asa Mugenyi.

The cause list indicates that among the petitions to be heard include a petition challenging the custom and legislation of paying district chairpersons salaries lower than those paid to Members of Parliament.

Another petition to be handled was filed by the Women’s Probono Initiative (WPI), arguing that the custom of one man marrying more than one wife is unconstitutional and contravenes Articles 21(1), 24, and 44(a) of the Constitution.

It also argues that the Government’s omission to outlaw this custom contravenes Articles 32(2), 5, and 33(1) of the Constitution.

Court will also hear a petition arguing that certain Sections of the Administration of the Judiciary Act 2020 are inconsistent with several Articles of the Constitution.

Source: https://www.kfm.co.ug/news/constitutional-court-set-to-hear-14-petitions-in-june.html

CALLS AGAINST CORRUPTION, HOMOSEXUALITY DOMINATE MARTYRS’ DAY CELEBRATIONS

Calls against corruption and homosexuality dominated Martyrs celebrations held at Namugongo in Wakiso District.

President Museveni who returned to Namugongo after four years for commemoration of the Uganda Martyrs Day warned against ignorantly debating Uganda’s stance on homosexuality.

In his speech delivered at the Catholic shrine, the president said Uganda is a land of martyrs, warning people who carelessly comment about the homosexuality vice.

“Those people who are just talking outside there, normally follow what they are saying, like in the issue of the homosexuals, they talk too much not knowing Uganda is a land of Martyrs,” President said.

He urged religious leaders to emphasize the fact that man has both spiritual and physical needs

Source: https://www.kfm.co.ug/news/national-news-news/calls-against-corruption-homosexuality-dominate-martyrs-day-celebrations.html

MUSEVENI HAILS ANITA AMONG; SLAMS ‘TRAITORS’, ‘FOREIGN AGENTS’

President Museveni heaped praises on Speaker Anita Among for “working harmoniously with the executive.”

“I want to salute the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and MPs,” said Museveni during the state-of-the nation address in Kololo on Thursday afternoon.

“I hear some people saying that Anita Among is perhaps not powerful enough because she does not undermine the executive but that’s not the case,” he observed.

“In the past, there was a risky and shallow tendency by some actors who tried to use Parliament to undermine the Ugandan revolution,” the president noted, adding, “This was a miscalculation that was provocative, but we managed to handle it peacefully.”

The praises come at a time the Speaker is facing a storm over the award of almost Shs 2bn to Commissioners of Parliament in service awards.

The huge expenditure of Parliament on activities run by the Speaker has also enraged the public.

However, Among maintains the expenditure of Parliament is always in line with approved budgets.

The U.S. and UK governments recently slapped sanctions on Among and her hubby, Eng Moses Magoogo.

Among today said the “call for leadership comes with the risk of being misunderstood, criticized, opposed, accused, sanctioned, or even rejected.”

The Speaker, who recently spearheaded the passing of the Anti-homosexuality law amid intense pressure from developing countries, said leaders “owe it to society to stand firm, and the good Lord will always be with us.”

Museveni disclosed that during the budgeting process for the year 2024/25, Among and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa worked closely with the heads of the executive and judiciary to harmonise their budgets.

He also slammed what he described as “foreign agents” and “traitors” who serve interests of foreign countries.

“There are, however, other actors, that get bribes from foreigners to work for foreign interests. These are both corrupt and traitors and we are monitoring their activities,” said Museveni.

“If they do not stop; and with evidence, we shall deal with them,” he added.

“They approach our people and say, ‘go and make a bad report against Uganda and we shall give you an award and it will have such money,’” said Museveni.

“I wish you good luck with the money of betrayal. We are following up. Those two – the dishonest people and traitors are the ones we are targeting. Mistake makers, we can show them how to do things.”

Source: https://chimpreports.com/museveni-hails-anita-among-slams-traitors-foreign-agents/

REGIONAL UPDATE

AFRICAN COURT GIVES TANZANIA ULTIMATUM TO SCRAP DEATH PENALTY

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights reiterated its longstanding order to Tanzania to revoke the death penalty in line with the continental charter on the right to life.

Delivering judgment on two separate cases, the court sitting in Arusha emphasised again that mandatory capital punishment was a violation of the African Charter and gave the country six months to remove it from its legal statutes.

Nzigiyimana Zabron, a Burundi national, and Tanzanian Dominick Damian are convicted murderers who have been languishing on death row at Mwanza's Butimba Central Prison for the last 12 years awaiting execution.

While the continental court has issued several similar orders for Tanzania to scrap the death penalty in recent years, the punishment has remained enshrined in the country's Penal Code despite growing opposition against it as a colonial era legacy.

This puts it among several African countries that continue to retain it despite a 1999 resolution by the African Commission for Human and People's Rights calling on African Union member states to observe a moratorium on capital punishment.

Only eight countries have abolished it in law and practice in the past 10 years, since 2014. Others are eyeing formal abolition while continuing to mete out the sentence for major offences.

Many, including Tanzania and Kenya, have not carried out any executions for years. Tanzania's last execution was in 1995 and Kenya, which also still sentences people to death, in 1987.

Official statistics show that by May 2023, there were 691 prisoners in Tanzanian prisons awaiting execution of their death sentences meted out by domestic courts.

In the cases of Zabron and Damian, the African court rejected their appeals for their convictions to be quashed outright, saying their guilt had been established beyond reasonable doubt in the respective trial proceedings with no evidence of "miscarriage of justice."

Source: https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/african-court-gives-tanzania-ultimatum-to-scrap-death-penalty-4648820

INTERNATIONAL UPDATE

SPAIN JOINS SOUTH AFRICA'S UN CASE ON ISRAEL GENOCIDE ACCUSATIONS

Spain last week announced it would apply to the United Nations’ top court to join South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide in the Gaza Strip.

“Our sole goal is to put an end to the war and to advance on the road of applying the two-state solution,” Spanish Foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares said.

Spain is the first European country to make the request, joining 12 other countries. South Africa introduced the case to the International Court of Justice last year, alleging that Israel’s Gaza offensive violated the 1948 UN Genocide Convention. Israel retaliated against Hamas after the terror group attacked the country on October 7, killing about 1,200 people, according to Israeli estimates.

“At the moment, we see a large-scale war that does not distinguish between civilian and military targets in Gaza, as well as the enormous risk of regional spillover,” Albares said, adding that the court must decide if Israel’s action in Gaza amounts to genocide.

Once admitted to the case, Spain would be able to make written submissions and speak at public hearings. Spain, as well as Ireland and Norway, recently recognized the state of Palestine, joining over 140 countries. Their decision brought an angry reaction from Israel, which has denied committing genocide.

The ICJ, developed after World War II to settle disputes between states, ordered Israel last Friday to allow UN-mandated investigators to look into the genocide accusations. On January 26, the ICJ also ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent genocide during its military operation in Gaza.

South Africa has told the ICJ that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza requires the court to issue new emergency measures. On May 24, the court ordered Israel to immediately halt the offensive in Rafah and keep the border crossing open for aid. It also called for the immediate release of the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7.

There already have been preliminary hearings on the genocide case against Israel. The court may take years to make a final decision.

Source: https://www.voanews.com/a/spain-joins-south-africa-un-case-/7645496.html

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:

1.   It is essential for both local authorities and communities to collaborate in addressing these challenges to curb the spread of HIV in Mbarara City and this can be done through in several ways including Scaling up education and awareness campaigns focusing on safe sexual practices and the importance of regular testing.

2.   The Constitutional Court's hearings on the 14 petitions are integral for reinforcing the rule of law, protecting human rights, ensuring governmental accountability, and maintaining public trust in the judicial system.

3.   Corruption is a major impediment to good governance and the protection of human rights. By desisting from corruption and prioritizing the protection of human rights and good governance, public officials can create a more prosperous, and accountable system. The collective effort of government, civil society, and international partners is essential to achieve these goals and build a future free from the detrimental.

4.   The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) has indeed reinforced its directive to Tanzania to abolish the death penalty, emphasizing adherence to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which enshrines the right to life. This move aligns with broader continental and international human rights standards advocating for the abolition of capital punishment. The court's stance is part of a growing trend in Africa and worldwide to promote human rights and the inherent dignity of all individuals.

Thank you for reading. Let us keep in touch.