HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE AND ANALYSIS | 10TH TO 16TH NOVEMBER 2025
Dear Human Rights Defender, Partner,
Welcome to this new week!
We are grateful that together, we are doing
whatever we can to ensure the continued promotion, protection and realization
of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Uganda and beyond.
It is said that information is power https://www.datatothepeople.org/post/why-information-is-power
and this is why HRCU tries its best to share as much as possible to share with
you relevant information especially that which relates to the environment in
which human rights defenders operate.
Below are a few highlights from the past week.
NATIONAL UPDATES
KENYAN ACTIVISTS CLAIM OVER
150 HELD AT UGANDA'S SFC BASE
Two Kenyan nationals, who were
detained by Ugandan security forces and later released, have spoken publicly
about their 38-day ordeal, revealing that more than 150 people were held in the
same detention facility.
Source:
2026 ELECTIONS: MUNYAGWA ATTACKS MINISTER, SSEMPIJJA OVER KALUNGU
DEVELOPMENT FAILURES
Common
Man’s Party presidential candidate Mubarak Munyagwa has de-campaigned state
minister for Water Aisha Sekindi and Senior Presidential Advisor Vincent
Sempijja, arguing that both poiticians have failed to improve living standards
in Kalungu district.
Source:
BUGANDA,
UNICEF SEAL HISTORIC PACT TO ADVANCE CHILD RIGHTS ACROSS UGANDA
In
a landmark move that bridges Uganda’s cultural heritage with modern
development, the Kingdom of Buganda, through its investment arm, Buganda
Investment and Commercial Undertaking Ltd (BICUL), has entered into a strategic
partnership with UNICEF to advance the rights and well-being of over 4.2
million children.
Signed
on Wednesday at the Buganda Parliament in Mengo, the Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) formalizes a comprehensive collaboration between the two
institutions, one rooted in centuries-old tradition, the other in global
humanitarian expertise.
Please
find more details via:
https://observer.ug/news/buganda-unicef-seal-historic-pact-to-advance-child-rights-across-uganda/
NGORA
PRISON WARDER FACES DISMISSAL OVER CRITICISING NRM
Ngora Prisons warder, Lawrence Ampe, is set to
face disciplinary action over allegations of posting political videos on social
media in which he criticised senior officers and made partisan statements.
Ampe, who is believed to operate a TikTok
account under the name @COP Ampe, reportedly published several videos attacking
leaders of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), accusing them of
mismanagement and self-enrichment. He also criticised fellow officers for what
he described as fear-driven silence.
Source:
https://observer.ug/news/ngora-prison-warder-faces-dismissal-over-criticising-nrm/
TOTALENERGIES
EP RALLIES YOUTH TO LEAD ENERGY TRANSITION
As
Uganda prepares for its first oil production, TotalEnergies EP Uganda is
calling on the country’s youth to play a pivotal role in driving a sustainable
energy future.
The
call to action was made during the Youth in Energy Conference 2025, held at
Sheraton Hotel Kampala under the theme “Awareness to Action: Youth
Shaping Uganda’s Energy Transition.”
The
event brought together university students, entrepreneurs, innovators, policy
influencers, and energy experts to explore inclusive pathways for youth
leadership in the energy space.
https://observer.ug/business/totalenergies-ep-rallies-youth-to-lead-energy-transition/
REGIONAL UPDATES
MISSING
KENYAN ACTIVISTS RELEASED AFTER 38 DAYS OF DETENTION IN UGANDA
Two
Kenyan human rights activists who went missing in Uganda after being abducted
by armed men have been released after 37 days.
Bob
Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo were reportedly kidnapped “mafia-style” at a petrol
station in Kaliro, eastern Uganda, during opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi’s
(Bobi Wine) campaign rally and driven to an undisclosed location. Their
disappearance quickly escalated into a regional human rights issue, drawing
concern from activists, lawyers, and politicians in both Kenya and Uganda.
https://observer.ug/news/missing-kenyan-activists-released-after-38-days-of-detention-in-uganda/
TANZANIA FREES OPPOSITION
LEADERS FOLLOWING DEADLY ELECTION PROTESTS
Police in
Tanzania have released several senior opposition leaders detained following the
deadly protests that followed last month’s disputed elections, according to the
main opposition party, Chadema.
Four senior
Chadema officials arrested last week for their alleged role in the
protests were released on bail on Monday, the party said on social media.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES
CAMEROON: KILLINGS, MASS ARRESTS FOLLOW DISPUTED ELECTIONS
The authorities in Cameroon responded to widespread opposition-led
protests following the October 12, 2025 elections with lethal force and mass
arrest of protesters and other citizens, Human Rights Watch said.
The Constitutional Council announced on October 27 that the incumbent
President Paul Biya, 92, had won the election with 53.66 percent of the vote.
His main challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, the former transport and
communication minister, had declared himself the winner on October 12, alleging
electoral fraud. Biya, who has been president since 1982, was sworn in for an
eighth term on November 6.
INTERNET FREEDOM DECLINES IN US, GERMANY SAYS REPORT
The Washington-based democracy promotion research group said global
internet freedom fell for the 15th straight year, with declines in a
number of countries that remain classified as “free.”
According to the annual survey by Freedom House, internet freedom
declined in both the United States ad Germany as Western democracies joined
authoritarian states in imposing growing restrictions online.
https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/world/internet-freedom-declines-in-us-germany-says-NV_222608
BBC APOLOGISES TO TRUMP OVER
PANORAMA EDIT BUT REFUSES TO PAY COMPENSATION
The BBC
has apologised to US President Donald Trump for a Panorama episode that spliced
parts of his 6 January 2021 speech together, but rejected his demands for
compensation. The corporation said the edit had given "the mistaken
impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action"
and said it would not show the 2024 programme again.
Lawyers
for Trump have threatened to sue the BBC for $1bn (£759m) in damages unless the
corporation issues a retraction, apologises and compensates him.
The
fallout from the scandal led to the resignations of BBC director general Tim
Davie and head of news Deborah Turness on Sunday.
Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c874nw4g2zzo
., ANALYSIS AND LOOKING FORWARD
Access to justice is a great contributor to peaceful co-existence and a healthy community. Whatever we watch and hear through the news in relation to the quest for fairness and following available laws is a sign that many more people are becoming aware of their rights and The State is therefore called upon to ensure that voices of citizens are not only heard but also acted upon.
As the
political season gets from level to level, stage to stage, Ugandans are urged
to maintain peace and a spirit of brotherhood/sisterhood. No one wants a disruption
of the peace; no one wants to see a violation or abuse of rights and freedoms.
It is everyone’s role to work towards fair and credible elections through
participation, accountability, neutrality, empowerment and legality.
Looking
at what is happening at the regional and international scene, it is evident
that the world is a global village, indeed because what is happening in Uganda
is similar to what is happening in the East African region, in Africa and
world-over. Leaders have a big role to play to ensure healthy regional and
international relations and the elimination of tensions both within and
without.
THANK
YOU FOR READING. LET US KEEP UP THE CONVERSATION.
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