HRCU WEEKLY ANALYSIS | 19TH TO 25TH MAY 2025
Human Rights Centre Uganda (HRCU)
THE WEEK OF 19TH TO 25TH MAY 2025
Dear Reader,
The Human Rights Centre Uganda welcomes you to a new week and is pleased to share its latest updates, focusing on human rights and key emerging issues from the past week, particularly those impacting human rights defenders (HRDs) in Uganda.
These updates underscore critical areas that warrant the continued attention and advocacy of human rights defenders, with the aim of steadily improving the environment in which they operate.
NATIONAL UPDATES
PARLIAMENT DEFIES SUPREME COURT WITH PASSAGE OF BILL EXPANDING MILITARY JURISDICTION OVER CIVILIAN
Uganda’s Parliament passed the contentious UPDF Amendment Bill 2025, granting military courts sweeping powers to try civilians under certain circumstances—a move that directly contradicts a Supreme Court ruling issued just 109 days ago.
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OPPOSITION MPS BOYCOTT PLENARY OVER 'RUSHED' UPDF BILL
The Opposition, led by Mr. Joel Ssenyonyi, boycotted a plenary session in protest against what they described as the rushed handling of the UPDF Amendment Bill and the Political Parties and Organisations Amendment Bill.
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ACTIVIST PETITIONS SPEAKER AMONG, DEMANDS REFERENDUM ON UPDF AMENDMENT BILL
Human rights activist Onesmus Muwanga has petitioned Speaker Anita Among to halt debate on the UPDF Amendment Bill 2025 and instead call for a referendum on a controversial clause in the proposed law.
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LAWYERS PUSH FOR HEARING OF BESIGYE BAIL APPLICATION
Lawyers for Dr. Kizza Besigye have written to the High Court in Kampala over delays in hearing his second bail application. They say repeated efforts to have the case scheduled have been unsuccessful.
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UPDF BILL: LAW SOCIETY SCOFFS AT MPS OVER SHORT NOTICE
The Uganda Law Society criticised Parliament for the short notice to discuss the Uganda People's Defence Force Amendment Bill and warned about a pending lawsuit against the Attorney General at the East African Court of Justice.
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UPDF DESERTER SENTENCED TO 35 YEARS IN PRISON OVER MURDER OF JOAN KAGEZI
A UPDF deserter, Daniel Kisekka, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison over the murder of Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Joan Kagezi in 2015.
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JUSTICE MULYAGONJA DEMANDS URGENT REFORMS AT MULAGO HOSPITAL
Justice Irene Mulyagonja has emotionally appealed to the government to improve healthcare services at Mulago National Referral Hospital, citing challenges she faced while nursing her late husband, John Baptist Kakooza, while at the hospital.
Source:
https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/news/justice-mulyagonja-pleads-for-better-services-NV_211250
ELECTORAL COMMISSION BEGINS HEARING VOTER COMPLAINTS
The parish electoral tribunals have started hearing complaints arising from the recently concluded voter register display across the country after the display exercise closed on May 15 2025.
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ENERGY MINISTER EXPLAINS PERSISTENT POWER BLACKOUTS AFTER UEDCL TAKEOVER
Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa says ongoing power blackouts are temporary and linked to aging infrastructure inherited from Umeme, heavy rains, and vandalism. The government is working to resolve the issues following UEDCL’s recent takeover of electricity management.
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REGIONAL UPDATES
AFTER UGANDA, TANZANIA EJECTS KARUA AS ATTACKS ON OPPOSITION LEADERS ESCALATE
The detention and deportation of People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua from Tanzania on Sunday is the latest instance of harassment she has faced from authorities in neighbouring countries during her pursuit of justice.
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AGATHER ATUHAIRE, BONIFACE MWANGI'S ARREST IN TANZANIA UNITES REGION IN CONDEMNATION
Human rights activists and civil society groups across East Africa are demanding for the immediate release of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist and rights defender Agather Atuhaire who are reportedly being held at a Central Police Station in Dar es Salaam Tanzania.
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SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT TO MEET TRUMP IN BID TO MEND TIES
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa plans to hold talks with his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, in Washington on May 21st 2025, hoping to ease a simmering diplomatic row between the two nations.
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INTERNATIONAL UPDATES
CHINA TO GIVE $500 MILLION TO WHO IN NEXT 5 YEARS, OFFICIAL SAYS
China will give an additional $500 million to the World Health Organization over five years, an official told the World Health Assembly on Tuesday, as the U.N. agency seeks extra funding to offset the expected loss of its top donor, the United States.
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WORLD AGREES PANDEMIC ACCORD FOR TACKLING OUTBREAKS OF DISEASE
A pandemic agreement governing how the world should work together to tackle future disease outbreaks has been adopted by global leaders after three years of negotiation.
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AIRSTRIKES KILL DOZENS IN GAZA, INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM OF ISRAEL GROWS
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have killed 87 Palestinians, according to local health authorities. The bombings continued despite increasing international calls for a ceasefire and unrestricted aid deliveries to the region.
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WEEK'S ANALYSIS
1. Several reports indicated that some stakeholders including members of Parliament were against the passing of the UPDF (Amendment) Bill in its form. Unfortunately, the Bill was passed and awaits Presidential assent. There is fear that the expansion of military jurisdiction over civilians undermines democracy and human rights with the arguments pointing to the fact that military courts should deal with uniformed officers and leave civilians to be tried in civilian courts. Advocacy in this regard continues to take deep shape and we join in to see how far fairness and justice can go in this regard.
2. The Law Society’s criticism of the short notice for the UPDF (Amendment) Bill highlights concerns about transparency and public participation in the legislative process. Rushing the bill through without proper review risks bypassing essential scrutiny, especially regarding the extension of military power over civilians. The response emphasizes the need for more thoughtful and inclusive lawmaking to protect democratic rights and uphold the rule of law.
3. The delay in hearing Dr. Kizza Besigye’s bail application raises concerns about judicial independence and selective legal treatment of opposition figures in Uganda. It potentially violates Article 23(6) and Article 28 of Uganda’s Constitution, which guarantee the right to apply for bail and a fair, speedy trial, as well as Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which mandates prompt judicial hearings. This situation underscores a broader issue of undermined due process and the erosion of democratic principles, highlighting the need for transparency and judicial integrity in politically sensitive cases.
4. The appeal made by Justice Irene Mulyagonja highlights the urgent need for healthcare reforms at Mulago Hospital. Her experience exposes systemic failures and echoes the concerns of human rights defenders advocating for improved service delivery, government accountability, and equitable access to quality healthcare for all Ugandans. It also calls on current leaders to do all that they can to make the institutions better while they still can.
5. The Electoral Commission's hearing of voter complaints is a chance to enhance transparency and accountability in Uganda's elections. Its success depends on impartiality, thorough investigation, and meaningful action. The process must be accessible to all, especially marginalized communities, and the Commission's credibility will be determined by its ability to ensure free and fair elections.
6. The expulsion of Kenyan opposition leader Martha Karua and the repression of opposition figures in Tanzania and the the trial of Tundu Lissu, have drawn international criticism and raise concerns about the integrity of Tanzania's democracy and elections. It is likely to affect regional/foreign relations between Tanzania and its neighbors. This can be coupled with the arrest of Agather Atuhaire and Boniface Mwangi as signaling growing political repression ahead of the 2025 elections. One has to dig deeper into why such figures become subject to repression if they were arrested and detained in regard to observing opposition leader Tundu Lissu’s trial.
7. Putting more funds into World Health Organization and the desire to improve cooperation in handling future pandemics, fair distribution of health products, better surveillance, and financial support may not eliminate challenges such as national sovereignty concerns, equitable access, and the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO remain. The accord represents a significant step toward global health collaboration, though further efforts are needed for effective implementation.
THANK YOU FOR READING. LET US KEEP IN TOUCH.
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