Yoweri Museveni
Human
rights lawyer Femi Falana SAN has dragged Uganda and President Yoweri
Museveni to the UN over allegations of grave human rights violations
in that country.
In
the urgent appeal sent Friday Falana asked the special
rapporteurs to use their good offices and position to “urgently
investigate ongoing reports of clampdown on the rights to freedom of
expression, peaceful assembly, association, media freedom and to
human dignity in Uganda.”
The
urgent appeal dated 23 August 2018 was sent to the UN Working Group
on Arbitrary Detention, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary
or arbitrary executions, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and
protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Special
Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of
association, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights
defenders and Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman
or degrading treatment or punishment.
The
urgent appeal addressed to Mr. Seong-Phil HONG, Ms. Agnes CALLAMARD,
Mr. David KAYE, Mr. Clement Nyaletsossi VOULE, Mr. Michel FORST, and
Mr. Nils MELZER read “I am seriously concerned that the Ugandan
authorities continue to arbitrarily arrest, detain and brutally beat,
torture and humiliate critics, journalists, human rights defenders,
activists, lawyers and opposition leaders and supporters. There are
also several cases of unlawful killings during arrests. The
authorities hardly investigate allegations of human rights violations
and abuses.”
“I
urge you to closely monitor and scrutinise the human rights situation
in Uganda and to take a more decisive role in combating years of
impunity for human rights violations and abuses and erosion of the
rule of law as well as the violation of general principles of justice
in that country. I strongly believe that ending impunity and
achieving justice in Uganda is central to promoting and ensuring full
respect for all human rights.”
“The
government continues to deploy a range of tactics to stifle critical
reporting, from occasional physical violence to threats,
intimidation, bureaucratic interference, and arrest. Station managers
of television and radio outfits and journalists often face reprisals
if their programmes are deemed critical of the authorities.”
“Ugandan
laws such as the 2013 regressive Public Order Management Act, which
grants police wide discretionary powers to permit or disallow
gatherings continue to be used to ban protests and opposition
rallies, arrest opposition members and commit other atrocities. Cases
of prolonged illegal detention, torture and well-documented killings
during protests, by security forces, remain unaddressed.”
“Among
several examples of grave human rights violations are: stopping
academic Stella Nyanzi, from boarding a flight to the Netherlands to
attend a conference on the ground that she criticised
President Yoweri
Museveni and
his wife, regarding the authorities’ failure to fulfil their
commitment to provide sanitary towels in girls’ schools; and the
abduction of the Nation TV journalist Gertrude Tumusiime Uwitware by
unknown assailants for several hours, simply for posting her support
for Stella Nyanzi on social media.”
“Others
are the summoning of editors Arinaitwe Rugyendo of the Red Pepper
newspaper and the online Daily Monitor, and Charles Bichachi of the
Nation Media Group solely for publishing stories on the presidential
age limit debate.”
“Other
cases include politically motivated charges against two journalists
Herbert Zziwa and Ronald Muwanga on the flimsy ground that they
reported allegations of assault on members of the press by security
personnel regarding political unrest in northern Uganda's Arua
District; harassment by security personnel of Julius Bakabaage, John
Kibalizi, and Benson Ongom, all journalists with the privately owned
NBS Television for doing their job; and raids on the ActionAid
Uganda’s offices in Kansanga, an area of Kampala, preventing staff
from leaving the premises for several hours.”
“Further,
opposition leader Kassiano Wadri and several other people including
MPs Kassiano Wadri, Gerand Karuhanga, Paul Mwiru, Francis Zaake, John
Ssebuffu, Faruku Abdurahamad, Asiku Tom, Ondoga Rasul, Tamale
Wilberforce, Owen Mohamad, Musisi William Nyanzi, Draji Tom, Wani
Tom, Amidu Juma, Atiku Shabani, Gamba Tumusiime, Kasuke Ismail,
Mandela Nelson, Obeti Simon, Ojotre Stephen, Asega Habib, Ijaga
Mohamad, Hamiku Charles, Andama Benard, Andama Anywar Doka, Odongo
John Bosco, and Butelezi Noor Manzur”
“Others
are: Ijotre Basir, Galumbe Anidu, Alara Maida, Asara Night and
Malubowa Caroline, were charged with treason. The charge sheet was
amended to include Kyagulanyi Sentamu Robert alias Bobi Wine, who is
also facing charges before the General Court Martial. Kyagulanyi was
arrested last following the chaos in Arua that allegedly culminated
into the stoning of president Museveni’s convoy. Kyagulanyi was
reportedly tortured in detention. He is being charged for the same
alleged offence in both the General Court Martial and a civil court.”
Falana
therefore urged the special rapporteurs to urgently intervene to put
pressure on the Ugandan government to:
1. Respect,
protect, promote and full the enjoyment of human rights by the people
of Uganda including by ensuring that peaceful opposition groups can
operate freely and exercise the freedoms of assembly, association,
expression, consistent with Uganda’s Constitution and international
and regional human rights treaties to which Uganda is a state party;
2. Immediately
end persecution, harassment and intimidation of critics, journalists,
human rights defenders, activists and other opposition members and
their supporters;
3. End
illegal detention and torture of suspects; investigate and bring to
justice state security agents who have committed human rights
violations and abuses;
4. Request
to jointly visit Uganda in order to conduct fact finding mission and
to report back to the UN Human Rights Council on your findings and
action for the Council to take.
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