HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE AND ANALYSIS | 11TH TO 17TH AUGUST 2025
As we commence a new week in
our shared commitment to justice and the protection of human dignity, The Human
Rights Centre Uganda reaffirms its steadfast dedication to safeguarding the
rights and freedoms of all individuals.
In the face of both ongoing
and emerging challenges, we call on all stakeholders to remain vigilant,
actively engaged, and united. Transparent communication and sustained, meaningful
collaboration are vital to achieving durable, rights-based solutions.
Below is a concise summary
of last week’s key news developments. We deeply value your
unwavering commitment to advancing human rights and justice for all.
NATIONAL UPDATES
UGANDA:
BESIGYE BAIL DENIALS SERIOUSLY TROUBLING
Repeated denials of bail to detained
Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye and his associate Obeid Lutale are
seriously troubling, says the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights.
Source:
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/08/uganda-besigye-bail-denials-seriously-troubling
RETIRED JUDGE TUMWESIGYE CALLS FOR IMPROVED
HUMAN RIGHTS, RULE OF LAW
Retired Supreme Court Judge Jotham
Tumwesigye says Uganda's current human rights situation and the state of the
rule of law need to be improved. Justice Tumwesigye shared his views with
a news
reporter, on the
sidelines of the launch of his memoir, My Life Through Changing Times—an event
attended by family, friends, and colleagues who hailed him as a principled
defender of justice and integrity.
Source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS0BwbTTZMc
NUP PETITIONS COURT TO BLOCK RETURN OF
CIVILIANS TO MILITARY COURTS
The Opposition
National Unity Platform (NUP) has filed a petition at the Constructional Court,
challenging the recently enacted Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF)
law,arguing that it undermines judicial authority and allows civilians to be
tried in military courts.
Source:
114 ASPIRANTS PICK PRESIDENTIAL
NOMINATION FORMS AS 2026 RACE HEATS UP
A total of 114 presidential aspirants have so
far picked nomination forms since the start of the exercise on Monday, August
11, 2025, at the Electoral Commission headquarters in Kampala.
Source:
GOVT STARTS ROAD MAINTENANCE WORKS
COUNTRYWIDE TO IMPROVE SAFETY, CONNECTIVITY
Government has
this month activated a nationwide road maintenance programme to improve travel
safety, reduce vehicle breakdowns, and enhance rural connectivity.
Source:
GOVT PLANS NEW CANCER FACILITIES AS
CASES, DEATHS SURGE
With cancer cases and deaths rising
sharply in Uganda, health authorities plan new facilities and treatment
programmes to expand access, improve care, and integrate palliative services
across the health system.
Source:
https://nilepost.co.ug/health/280242/govt-plans-new-cancer-facilities-as-cases-deaths-surge
SELLING
DISTRICT JOBS SINKING LOCAL GOVT
Although the Directorate of Ethic in the Office of the President says
the Country is stuck with the evil of offering government jobs in district for
cash, some District Service Commission bosses have been suspended, arrested and
others charged before the courts of law.
Source:
https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/selling-district-jobs-sinking-local-govts-5154402
WE ARE PREPARED FOR EDDIE MUTWE'S BAIL
HEARING – LAWYERS
Lawyers representing four National
Unity Platform (NUP) members including Eddie Ssebuufu, alias Eddie Mutwe
detained at Masaka Prison say they have completed all the requirements for
their clients’ release on bail ahead of a hearing on Thursday.
Source:
https://nilepost.co.ug/court/279972/we-are-prepared-for-eddie-mutwes-bail-hearing-lawyers
REGIONAL UPDATES
CAPE VERDE
DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY AFTER DEADLY FLOODS
Cape Verde has declared a state of
emergency on the islands of São Vicente and Santo Antão, after deadly floods
which killed at least nine people and forced 1,500 from their homes.
Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c87eyv810jyo
SOUTH SUDAN IN DILEMMA OVER
PALESTINIAN REFUGEE PROPOSAL
South Sudan’s
government is fighting reports of a planned relocation of Palestinian refugees
from Gaza to it’s territory, even after word went round of talks to implement
the move.
Source:
22 MISSING, 3 RESCUED IN GOLD MINE
COLLAPSE IN TANZANIA
Three mining
technicians have been rescued while 22 remain missing following the collapse of
a gold mine in Tanzania’s northwestern shinyanga region.
Source:
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES
FINAL HOURS FOR NATIONS TO AGREE
TREATY ON PLASTIC POLLUTION
Nations are working to finalize the
first-ever global, legally binding treaty on plastic pollution at the United
Nations office in Switzerland.
Source:
https://www.africanews.com/2025/08/14/final-hours-for-nations-to-agree-treaty-on-plastic-pollution/
HUMANITARIAN GROUPS SAY ISRAEL VETTING
PROCESS PREVENTING LIFE-SAVING AID GETTING INTO GAZA
More than 100 organisations have
signed a joint letter calling on Israel to stop the "weaponisation of
aid" into Gaza, as "starvation deepens".
Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj6ynz22871o
HOT, DRY
SUMMERS BRING NEW 'FIREWAVE' RISK TO UK CITIES, SCIENTISTS WARN
Cities across the UK are facing a
growing threat from an emerging phenomenon called "firewaves" as
temperatures rise due to climate change, scientists have warned.
Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9vd79x97zlo
WEEK'S ANALYSIS
- The repeated bail denials of Dr. Kizza Besigye raise serious concerns regarding the right to personal liberty and a fair hearing as guaranteed under Articles 23 and 28 of Uganda’s Constitution. Denial of bail without compelling justification can amount to punishment before conviction and undermines the presumption of innocence. In Uganda v. Col. Kizza Besigye (2005), the courts acknowledged the political sensitivity of his arrests, indicating the potential for rights abuses in politically motivated prosecutions. Continued denial undermines public confidence in judicial independence.
- Retired Judge Tumwesigye’s call for improved human rights and rule of law highlights growing institutional concerns within Uganda’s justice system. His position reflects dissatisfaction with the implementation of constitutional safeguards. The rule of law under Articles 2 and 3 of the Ugandan Constitution mandates state actors to uphold rights without discrimination. Judicial leadership plays a crucial role in restoring public trust and urging the legal community to uphold constitutionalism above politics.The National Unity Platform’s petition against the return of civilians to military courts addresses a longstanding constitutional issue. Article 126 of the Ugandan Constitution mandates justice without undue influence, and military courts trying civilians contradict this principle. In Foundation for Human Rights Initiative v. Attorney General, the Constitutional Court ruled that military courts are not competent to try civilians in civilian matters, reinforcing the illegality of such practices.
- The government’s commencement of countrywide road maintenance aims to improve safety and connectivity. However, the success of these efforts depends on transparency and sustained investment. Corruption and substandard work have historically plagued such projects. The Uganda Roads Act,2008 (Cap361) and the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act, 2003 (as amended) require accountability, but weak enforcement has often resulted in short-term improvements without lasting impact.
- With the surge in cancer cases and deaths, the government’s plan to establish new cancer facilities is a welcome measure. Cancer remains underdiagnosed due to limited access to screening and treatment outside Kampala. This situation infringes on the right to health under Article 8A of the Ugandan Constitution and Uganda’s obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). In CEHURD & Others v. Attorney General, the court emphasized the government’s constitutional duty to ensure access to essential health services.
- Reports of selling district jobs reveal entrenched corruption in local government, violating Article 21 (equality before the law) and Article 40 (right to fair work conditions) of the Ugandan Constitution. Such practices deepen inequality and erode public trust. Although the The Local Governments Act, Cap. 243, mandates merit-based recruitment, enforcement is weak. The Inspectorate of Government must act decisively to restore accountability and meritocracy in public service.
- The state of emergency declared in Cape Verde following deadly floods exemplifies the disproportionate impact of climate change on small island nations. Such emergencies strain national disaster response systems and highlight the need for international solidarity. Cape Verde, as a signatory to the Paris Agreement, faces limited capacity to mitigate these impacts but continues to bear the consequences of global climate inaction. Regional cooperation and strengthened adaptation strategies are essential moving forward.
THANKING YOU FOR READING. LET US KEEP IN TOUCH.
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