HRCU WEEKLY ANALYSIS | 7TH - 13TH APRIL 2025

 

THE WEEK OF 7^TH TO 13^TH APRIL 2025

Dear Human Rights Defender and HRCU Partner in Human Rights Promotion,

Welcome to this new week where we are called upon to continue standing up and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.

So much has gone on in the past; so much is going on today and we believe that so much shall go on tomorrow and the days to come. What we have to do is learn from the past, hold onto today and place more focus on making tomorrow better.

Below are some of the highlights from last week’s news round up. The analysis comes at the end of the items that were documented.

HRCU appreciates your continued presence and feedback in relation to contributing to a safer and more tolerant working environment for human rights defenders in Uganda.

NATIONAL UPDATE

Copyright law at play:

ARTISTE BRUNO K AWARDED SHS 130M FOR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT

Local musician Bruno Kiggundu, commonly known as Bruno K, has been awarded Shs 130 million by the High court after he successfully sued an American music company for infringing on his copyright.

The commercial division of the High court presided over by justice Patricia Mutesi found that Black Market Media, an American-based music promotion company that also opened offices in Uganda in 2020, unfairly benefited from the songs composed by Bruno.

Source: The Observer: https://observer.ug/news/artiste-bruno-k-awarded-she-130m-for-copyright-infringement/

COURT GRANTS POLICE ACCESS TO MUHANGI’S YOUTUBE CHANNELS IN BEBE COOL COPYRIGHT CASE

The KCCA Hall Court has granted an application filed by musician Moses Ssali, popularly known as Bebe Cool, allowing police to examine comedian Alex Muhangi’s YouTube channels over allegations of copyright infringement.

Senior principal grade one magistrate Nicholas Aisu delivered the ruling on Thursday, as part of an ongoing case in which Bebe Cool accuses Muhangi of unlawfully using his content in at least 15 YouTube videos, some of which were also aired on NTV, a local television station.

Matters of Bail:

DPP MAKES WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS OPPOSING BESIGYE’S BAIL APPLICATION

The prosecution has opposed the bail application for Dr. Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutaale, arguing that the sureties are not substantial enough to guarantee their appearance in court.

The opposition to bail is contained in the submissions that have been submitted to Lady Justice Rosette Comfort Kania ahead of the ruling on April 11th 2025, to decide on whether to release them or not pending trial on treason and misprision of treason charges against them.

In the submissions drafted by Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka on behalf of the DPP, the Prosecution has questioned the age and authority of the sureties, stating that they are younger than the applicants and lack the necessary influence to compel them to appear in court.

Source: The Independent: https://www.independent.co.ug/bruno-k-awarded-shs130m-for-copyright-infringement/

DENYING BESIGYE BAIL WOULD BE A GRAVE MISTAKE, SAYS BYANYIMA AHEAD OF KEY COURT RULING

Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of UNAIDS and wife of opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, has called for the release of Besigye and his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Lutale, ahead of a crucial court decision on their bail application.

In a statement on her X (formerly Twitter) account, Byanyima said: “After being abducted from Nairobi and held illegally for five months, denying them bail would be a grave injustice. Neither poses a flight risk. Both are innocent of the politically motivated charges they face.”

Besigye and Lutale have been on remand since November 2024. They were arrested in Nairobi, Kenya, and forcibly returned to Uganda.

They are charged with treason, accused of plotting to overthrow the government. Prosecutors claim they held meetings in Geneva, Athens, and Nairobi to seek foreign support for destabilizing Uganda.

Protecting the Girl Child:

EACOP, MALAIKA START GIVING FREE SANITARY PADS TO OVER 1,500 GIRLS

A programme to distribute free re-usable sanitary pads to 1,500 school-going girls in five districts of Hoima, Kikuube, Mubende, Kakumiro and Kyankwanzi has started.

The one-year pilot project is being funded by East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Company, in collaboration with Malaika, a social enterprise, as part of its corporate social responsibility.

Source: The Observer: https://observer.ug/news/eacop-malaika-start-giving-free-sanitary-pads-to-over-1500-girls/

Procedures for/of Justice:

STATE ATTORNEY SEEKS DEATH CERTIFICATE BEFORE DROPPING CHARGES ON SSEGIRINYA

The resident Senior State Attorney of Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court, Ivan Kyazze, has informed the court that he is still waiting for the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) to furnish him with a death certificate to prove that Kawempe North Member of Parliament Muhammad Ssegirinya is dead before the charges of inciting violence against him can be formally dropped.

Kyazze revealed this on Wednesday while appearing before the Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi when the matter, dating back to 2020, came up for further mention. He then asked for an adjournment to allow the CID, which was investigating the case that stemmed from the deceased’s Facebook post, to furnish him with the death certificate.

Source: The Independent: https://www.independent.co.ug/state-attorney-seeks-ssegirinya-death-certificate-before-dropping-charges/

Vigilance and the Call to Protect Teenagers:

TEEN GIRL SETS SELF ON FIRE IN NWOYA OVER BOYFRIEND

Two roadside fuel vendors have been arrested in Nwoya district after they allegedly sold petrol to a 17-year-old girl who died after self-immolation.

The suspects, whose identities have been withheld because of the ongoing investigations, were arrested on Tuesday following the death of Paska Ajalo, a resident of Gony Cogo village, Lutuk parish in Lii sub-county, Nwoya district.

https://observer.ug/news/teen-girl-sets-self-on-fire-in-nwoya-over-boyfriend/

Addressing Torture:

WOMAN REMANDED FOR TORTURING 11-YEAR-OLD NIECE

The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s court has remanded 23-year-old Charity Iwutung for allegedly torturing her 11-year-old niece, whom she brought to Kampala to work as a housemaid.

Iwutung, a resident of Mulimira Zone in Kamwokya, appeared before chief magistrate Ronald Kayizzi on Wednesday and was charged with aggravated torture. According to the prosecution, Iwutung is accused of repeatedly subjecting the girl to severe physical abuse without any justifiable reason.

https://observer.ug/news/woman-remanded-for-torturing-11-year-old-niece/

REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL UPDATE

KINSHASHA, DRC: PUBLIC URGED TO BOYCOTT M23 BANKING SERVICES

The general management of the General Savings Bank of Congo has urged the public to boycott parallel banking services established by the March 23 Movement (M23) in areas under their control.

M23 rebels on Monday established their bank in areas they control in North and South Kivu provinces.  This happened after banks continued to suspend services since the fall of Goma city into the hands of rebels in early this year, arguing that they would first wait for authorization from the government’s Central Bank of Congo (BCC).

https://www.independent.co.ug/public-urged-to-boycott-m23-banking-services/

MYANMAR’S DEADLY EARTHQUAKE EXPOSES VOID LEFT BY US IN GLOBAL DISASTER RESPONSES

As civil war-torn Myanmar struggles to recover from a devastating earthquake, the United States is facing criticism that it has abandoned the country in its hour of need – and is ceding global leadership on disaster response to its rivals.

The 7.7-magnitude quake, which struck on March 28 and killed thousands, is the first major natural disaster since the Trump administration canceled billions of dollars in lifesaving programs under its drive to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the main US humanitarian aid agency.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/10/asia/myanmar-quake-usaid-trump-intl-hnk/index.html

AT LEAST 34 PEOPLE KILLED IN RUSSIAN BALLISTIC MISSILE ATTACK ON SUMY

At least 34 people have been killed and 117 injured, including 15 children, after a Russian attack on the centre of Sumy, according to Ukrainian authorities. Two Iskander-variant ballistic missiles struck at around 10:15 local time (08:15 BST), both hitting the area around Sumy State University and its congress centre.

Images and videos of the aftermath show bloodied bodies scattered in the streets around the impact of the missiles. At least two children were killed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said among the injured was a girl born this year, adding that medics were doing "everything they can" to save as many lives as possible.

WEEK'S ANALYSIS

 Laws might take long to have effect but at one point, they do. Observing the trend and discussions around copyright law in Uganda, one can say for sure that very soon, artistes and content creators are headed for greater level of protection. This is likely to build confidence in these authors, enhance innovation and develop more skills.

 The call for Constitutional governance and rule of law cannot be under rated. Once a Constitution was put in place, it becomes incumbent upon all perosns to respect and uphold it. Emphasis here is placed on Articles 23 and 28 that speak to fairness and justice including the right to apply for bail and fair hearing. Institutions such as Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Judiciary, Uganda Police Force and Uganda Human Rights Commission must always work hand in hand to ensure that citizens get speedy and fair trials and hearing of their cases. No one should be subjected to longer remand periods without any justification or explanation. People should have opportunity to be heard and to see that their cases are handled and concluded within reasonable time.

 There is disturbing manifestation of child abuse and torture of young ones. From house-helps to step-parents, to relatives and actual parents, there have been reports of children being physically abused in circumstances that could have otherwise been avoided. HRCU takes a firm stand to call on all actors (family members and duty bearers) to be on alert and report any cases of child abuse as and when they do arise.

 It is this time, more than ever before that the world needs tolerance and good order. Nations must come to terms with each other and work towards promotion and protection of the rights and freedoms of their sovereign citizens. Wars and fights amongst nations are condemned because as the adage goes, “whenever two elephants fight, the grass suffers.” Whenever nations are at war, citizens suffer and many of them lose their lives, property and livelihoods. A point must reach when all this can end. Advocacy lives on.

WISHING YOU A FRUITFUL AND PROSPROUS WEEK.