HRCU WEEKLY ANALYSIS | 5TH TO 11TH MAY 2025
THE WEEK OF 5TH
TO 11TH MAY 2025
Hello Human
Rights Defender and HRCU Partner;
Welcome to
May 2025, especially to this week where HRCU continues to share with you some
key stories and highlights relating to human rights and key emerging issues
that are worth taking note of for purposes of advocacy for a better and
improved environment for the promotion, protection and realization of human
rights and fundamental freedoms for all.
Some of the
highlights from last week included:
NATIONAL UPDATES
JOURNALISTS URGED TO PRESS FOR
DIALOGUE, UNITY AMID RISING ATTACKS
Journalists have been
urged to actively press the government for constructive dialogue as a key step
toward finding lasting solutions to the persistent attacks against the media,
many of which have involved brutal actions by security forces.
Speaking Saturday during
the World Press Freedom Day celebrations organized by the Greater Luwero
Journalists’ Association (GLJA) at St. Anthony Primary School in Nakasongola
District, Minister for Public Service Wilson Muruli Mukasa advised the media to
focus on promoting national unity rather than division.
https://www.independent.co.ug/journalists-urged-to-press-for-dialogue-unity-amid-rising-attacks/
TEARS AS RUPARELIA PAYS TRIBUTE TO SON RAJIV AT FINAL
SENDOFF
It was a somber mood on May
6, 2025 as property mogul Sudhir Ruparelia wept over the death of his only son,
Rajiv Ruparelia, who passed away in a tragic accident.
MUGAMBE’S JOB ON THE LINE FOLLOWING COURT CONVICTION
Justice Lydia
Mugambe’s judicial career hangs in the balance following her conviction and
eventual sentencing after she was found guilty on Friday last week, of modern
slavery charges and sentenced to six years and four months in prison.
In Uganda, a Judge
can be removed from office by the Judicial Service Commission if they are found
to be unable to perform their duties due to infirmity of body or mind,
misbehavior, misconduct, or incompetence.
Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/mugambe-s-job-on-the-line-following-court-conviction-5032764#story
DPP TAKES OVER PROSECUTION OF UNRA OFFICIALS
The Office of the
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has taken over a case in which two former
employees of the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) are charged with
causing the government a financial loss of Shs.4.8billion.
UNRA had been given
the mandate to prosecute cases on behalf of the office of the DPP, but the
following its reverting to the mother ministry of Works last year, it lost its
prosecutorial rights.
Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/dpp-takes-over-prosecution-of-unra-officials-5031314
RWANDAN NATIONAL SENTENCED TO 18
MONTHS FOR DEFILEMENT
Ezekiel Kajeini, a
Rwandan national has earned 18 months in prison for defiling a 15-year-old
girl. Kitgum Chief Magistrate Robert Ekirita Nashiero convicted and
sentenced Kajeini on Tuesday on his own plea of guilt for defilement.
According to the
prosecution, the incident occurred on January 4, 2025 in Bajere South Village,
Labongo Akwang Sub-county, Kitgum. The victim, a 15-year-old girl, was
reportedly defiled by Kajieni, who is her neighbor. He was arrested the same
day and later remanded to Kitgum Government Prison.
https://www.independent.co.ug/rwandan-national-sentenced-to-18-months-for-defilement/
NAPAK CHILDREN RETURN TO KAMPALA
STREETS AS CHILD TRAFFICKING WORSENS
Despite efforts by
authorities to rescue and repatriate street children, Napak District is once
again grappling with an alarming return of children to the streets of
Kampala. Last year, the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) rescued over
500 children under the Kampala Capital City Child Protection Ordinance 2022,
enrolling them into schools in Napak District.
The ordinance empowers
KCCA to rescue and rehabilitate children found loitering, vending, or begging
on city streets, leading to a sharp decline in street children. However,
the situation is reversing. Parents are reportedly sending children back to the
streets, arguing that their presence would attract government intervention.
https://www.independent.co.ug/napak-children-return-to-kampala-streets-as-child-trafficking-worsens/
REGIONAL
NEWS
HUMAN
RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN UGANDA: AFRICAN COURT WRITES TO MUSEVENI
The
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights wrote to President Museveni
rising concern about human rights violations in Uganda.
The
Commissions particularly singled out the arrest and detention of Human Rights
lawyer, Eron Kiiza. On 7 January 2025 during a court session, soldiers
physically prevented Eron Kiiza from entering the military court’s section for
defendants’ lawyers when his clients, opposition politician was arraigned. Eron
Kiiza responded by shouting and banging on the courtroom barricade.
Soldiers
assaulted him while removing him from the courtroom, before arresting and
placing him in the dock alongside his clients.
Source: https://www.independent.co.ug/human-rights-violations-in-uganda-african-court-writes-to-museveni/
EU PARLIAMENT JOINS CALLS FOR TUNDU LISSU’S RELEASE
The European Parliament
on Thursday added its voice to growing calls for the government of Tanzanian
President Samia Suluhu Hassan to drop treason and other charges against
opposition leader Tundu Lissu and to allow his party, Chadema, to take part as
a genuine participant in general elections later this year.
DRONE ATTACKS SPREAD TO SUDAN’S “SAFE HAVENS” AS WAR ESCALATES
In an escalation of
hostilities in Sudan, the drone attacks blamed on the Rapid Support Forces
(RSF) have spread to regions in the east that were considered safe, such as
Kosti in White Nile State, Umm Rawaba in North Kordafan, and for the fifth
consecutive day, Kassala and Port Sudan.
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS
INDONESIAN COURT RESTRICTS CRIMINAL DEFAMATION LAWSUITS
In an important step
towards protecting online speech, Indonesia’s Constitutional Court on April 29
issued two rulings that provide important clarifications to the country’s
Electronic Information and Transaction Law, used to regulate the internet.
For decades, government
officials and powerful private actors, including companies and religious
groupd, have brought criminal defamation lawsuits under the internet law to
silence their critics.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/05/08/indonesian-court-restricts-criminal-defamation-lawsuits
NEW
POPE MENTIONS MADONNA AMID GLOBAL WAR WARNINGS: ‘NEVER AGAIN WAR’
With a voice that rang
through the Vatican, he called for an end to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza,
urging world leaders to choose peace over destruction and demanding "just
and lasting solutions." Declaring “Never again war,” the pope pleaded for
the release of prisoners and the return of displaced children.
He also welcomed the
ceasefire between India and Pakistan but reminded the world that many conflicts
still rage on.
WEEK’S ANALYSIS
- In human rights defending work, there are certain categories or classes of human rights defenders (HRDs), including journalists and women HRDs who are considered to be at greater risks and high vulnerability due to the level of exposure to harm in the course of their work. It becomes important to seek and advocate for stronger protection and better recognition of these people so that they can continue to undertake and perform their work without any fear of reprisal and intimidations.
- The past weeks have been characterized by accidents happening in different parts of the country. Inquiries must be initiated by the relevant bodies/authorities and mitigation measures should be put in place to address the challenge. Otherwise, the roads will continue to be unsafe for all of us. All automobile drivers and road users should always take caution before, during and after getting onto the roads.
- The quest for justice is real. When we hear that the DPP has taken over prosecution of certain cases, it is a process that should be allowed to take its course all in the name of seeing that justice is served and should be served in good time. It also speaks to the current or most recent developments where certain institutions of government were merged thereby losing their legal identity and transferring it to the mother-entities.
- HRCU congratulates the Catholic community upon receiving a new Pope (Pope Leo XIV) and hope that he will continue to speak up for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without any fear or favor; without discrimination.
- It is important to continue advocating for the protection of children and the realization of their rights. The ordinances in place should be implemented well bearing in mind that when children are defended and protected from all sorts of vices and harm, they will grow up to be better people and contributors towards development in their societies/communities.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. TILL NEXT WEEK, CHEERS.
What bout Eddie mutwe being tortured by the muhuzi force him to understand runyangole
ReplyDeleteThanks for updating us
ReplyDelete