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Zaake petitions Rules Committee, says he will appear on Monday next week

By
Geoffery Serugo
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MP Zaake

Opposition Commissioner of Parliament Francis Zaake has petitioned the Rules Committee Chairperson Abdu Katuntu asking his interface with the committee be held on Monday next week.

The legislator was expected to appear before the committee to defend himself over the allegations that he insulted the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Anita Among. The MP asked the Committee chairman to reschedule the meeting because he was on official duties.

The MP is accused of insulting the integrity of Parliament after he last week took to social media and used offensive language to express his dissatisfaction with the Deputy Speaker’s statement regarding his alleged torture.

Raising the matter, Martin Mapenduzi said that he intended to move a motion to have Zaake is relieved of his duties as a commissioner for denigrating the integrity of Parliament and Office of the Speaker in breach of Rules 84 and 85 of the Rules of Procedure and Paragraph 5 of the Code of Conduct of Members.

“All of us may have our own emotions and issues to deal with but there are avenues in our Rules of Procedure through which anything done by the presiding officer can be challenged. The member never exercised any of the remedies provided in the rules but chose to go to social media,” Mapenduzi said.

The matter was supported by the Soroti West Division MP; Jonathan Ebwalu who said Zaake’s use of unparliamentary language on social media against the person of the Deputy Speaker was in bad faith and demeaned the office of the Speaker and institution of parliament.

“The intention was to damage; lower the character and status of the Speaker and the reputation of this Parliament. It is our obligation to defend Parliament from any attack. We need to enact laws to check cyber bullying, cyber harassment, blackmail and intimidation,” he said. 

Esther Afoyochan, one of the Backbench commissioners disassociated her from the social media utterances attributed to Zaake saying that the House should deal with the matter in accordance with the House’s prescribed guidelines.

Deputy Speaker, Anita Among referred the matter to the Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline for further investigations.

And, yesterday, the four complaint MPs appeared before Parliament’s Rules Committee chaired by legislator Abdu Katuntu to present a formal complaint against Zaake. The group accuses Zaake of insulting the integrity of Parliament after he last week took to social media and used offensive language to express his dissatisfaction with the Deputy Speaker’s statement regarding his alleged torture.

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Kakwenza arrives in Germany

By
Simon Kabayo
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Kakwenza Rukirabashaija

Government critic and Novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija is finally in Europe, former Presidential Candidate, Dr. Kizza Besigye revealed.

“Thank God, tortured Mr. Kakwenza Rukirabashaija has arrived safely in Europe. He can now have proper medical evaluation and treatment. And, certainly, his mouth and pen are now free! Thanks to all who’ve been helpful to get him there. The struggle continues,” Besigye said on social media.

Kakwenza arrived in Germany today where he was earlier invited by the PEN Centre.

“The German PEN Center is happy to welcome the persecuted Ugandan author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija to Germany! Today Rukirabashaija arrived safely here, he is under the care of friends and PEN,” PEN Germany confirmed on their social media.

Last year he was awarded the international PEN Pinter Prize in the category “Bravest Writer”. After his last arrest, the German PEN Center appointed him an honorary member in January 2022.

Earlier this month, Kakwenza fled into exile after Buganda Road Magistrate Dr. Douglas Singinza declined release his passport on grounds that he can get specialised treatment within the country. Kakwenza who was out on bail had petitioned court seeking for released of his passport to seek treatment in Europe after he being tortured by unrevealed security agencies.

Kakwenza was arrested at Kisaasi after a three days twitter feud with supporters of UPDF Land forces commander Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Kakwenza averred that Muhoozi’s supporters were allegedly bullying him for criticizing President Yoweri Museveni.

Kakwenza is facing two counts of offensive communication, contrary to Section 25 of the computer misuse act 2011.

Prosecution avers that Kakwenza on 24th December 2021 in the Kampala District, willfully and repeatedly used his Twitter handle to commit cases of offensive communication against the President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the first son Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, with no purpose of legitimate communication.

Rukirabashaija is the author of the novel The Greedy Barbarian, which takes on themes of high-level corruption in a fictional country. He was arrested on 13 April 2020 in Uganda, and held for seven days, during which time he was interrogated about his fiction and subjected to torture and later released. Rukirabashaija details this treatment in his latest work banana republic: Where Writing is Treasonous.

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MPs question Russian firm’s car tracking contract

By
Our Reporter
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Muhwezi and the russians

Parliament’s Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs has raised concern on the compulsory installation of electronic tracking devices on motorcycles and motor vehicles, known as the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS).

According to committee chairperson, Hon Rosemary Nyakikongoro, citizens ought to comprehend the modus operandi of the contract between the Government and Russian firm, Joint Stock Company Global Security.

In a meeting on Tuesday, 22 February 2022, Nyakikongoro said the Minister for Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, wrote to the committee saying the contract was signed between the directors of the firm and the Ministry of Security.

“But according to information we have, the two Permanent Secretaries for the ministries of Security and that of Works and Transport signed the contract. This means that the Ministry of Transport as an implementing agency was supposed to come here and respond to certain issues that the public is interested in,” said Nyakikongoro.

She cited among others, government owning the number plates where tracking chips will be placed and how privacy of individuals will be managed, as well as who will collect the revenue.

“The data collected on the individuals owning motorcycles and motor vehicles is a private matter. How do you hand over this data to a private company that will be managing all this?” she asked.

The committee chairperson also noted that MPs are interested in knowing whether the vehicle tracking system will strengthen the CCTV system that is managed by the Uganda Police Force, and where the central system to man the data will be established.

“And at the end of the day, if the company closes, who will manage the whole system? Are we looking at training people under the Ministry of Works or Internal Affairs or the Police? Will it be the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence, the UPDF, internal security or external security agencies?” Nyakikongoro asked.

She also spotted concerns by Committee MPs on which Ministry or sector would handle the project after Joint Stock Company Global Security hands it over to government after the 10 years.

“We are interested in knowing that if the company will pay itself by collecting fees, what type of fees will these be? If they are traffic fees, are you changing the law? We need to know if they have put correct figures for how much a motorcycle will pay for the chip and how much a lorry or trailer or other vehicles will pay,” said the Nyakikongoro.

The query into the installation of the electronic tracking devices on motorcycles and vehicles was called for by Mukono North MP, Hon Abdallah Kiwanuka, who along with some Opposition MPs, termed the move as illegal.

Kiwanuka, presenting during a plenary session on 23 September 2021, criticised plans to have car owners pay for the arrangement saying it is unfair.

He cited concerns related to the nature of the contract between government and the Russian firm, an enabling legal framework, installation costs of the tracking devices, intrusion of privacy and data storage of collected information.

The Leader of the Opposition, Hon Mathias Mpuuga, during the same sitting, sought to move a motion without notice under the Rules of Procedure to require the security minister, Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi, to appear before Parliament to report on the extent to which the project has been implemented so far.

Speaker Jacob Oulanyah then guided that the minister should present a comprehensive statement on the matter.

On 29 September 2021, the minister presented a statement to the House saying the President on 18 November 2019, directed the Prime Minister to inter alia implement the ITMS as a classified procurement under the Security Ministry.

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Joe Walker, friends launch a road safety campaign dubbed ‘Stay in your Lane’

By
Our Reporter
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Joseph Beyanga holding a placard of the donation recieved from CCBA

Ugandan Broadcast Journalist and recently-converted fitness walking enthusiast Joseph Beyanga today announced he will be walking 320kilometres from Kampala to Bushenyi to highlight road safety concerns in Uganda.

Beyanga said he would walk from Kampala to Bushenyi in honour of his father, Emmanuel Batsikana, who walked from Bushenyi to Kampala in 1945 to create a better life for his family and community.

“As I celebrate my 45th birthday this year I will dedicate it to my father’s legacy and walk for a cause I am passionate about – road safety in Uganda under the #StayInYourLane tagline. It will be a dream come true for me and I want all Ugandans to take up this rallying call for the good of the entire country,” Beyanga announced.

Joseph Beyanga, Manager of KFM Radio, spearheaded the “Stay in Your Lane Campaign” on twitter which mobilized social media users to hold road users mostly motorists in Kampala – accountable through pictorial naming and shaming of errant road users.

Under the banner of ‘Joe Walker and Friends’, Beyanga will embark on the 320kilometre walk on Monday 28th February 2022 and arrive in Bushenyi on 12th March 2022. Lasting 10 days, the tour will feature various locations along the route, all being televised and posted to social media platforms, with visits to various locations requiring road safety signage and additional measures.

Beyanga promised to translate his passion into an exciting tour for more people to emulate in future, while highlighting the need for safe roads and healthy living.

Beyanga started fitness walking barely a year ago after his doctor advised him that it would help treat some stubborn allergic reactions. His adventures walking around the different parts of Kampala city and in other places in Wakiso District showed him how much fun it is to walk but also how difficult it can be especially in busy areas where motorists and cyclists are discourteous to pedestrians.

“Walking helped me appreciate different communities and their lifestyles whether in luxurious residential areas like Kololo or sleepy slums in Namuwongo. The “Joe Walker and Friends” tour is therefore being done to highlight all these issues I have seen and which I believe need to be worked on by both the government and the ordinary citizen, including the role of road safety, living a healthy lifestyle in Uganda’s social-economic transformation, and what we can do better as Ugandans,” he said.

Ronald Gayiya, Fleet Manager, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa in Uganda (CCBA) said that this initiative is very dear to the company as it involves saving the lives of people.

“We are in the business of people, so we take a lot of interest in making sure ‘our people’ stay safe. We are stepping out of our four walls to lend our voice to this campaign because losing lives due to road accidents should be a thing of the past. We are very passionate about road safety, and we believe the safety of the road user matters a lot,” he pointed out.

“Looking at the hard numbers, in 2020, we registered over 3,633 fatalities translating to 10 persons dying per day, 869 succumb to disabilities implying that they cannot provide for their families. Looking beyond the numbers, we believe as CCBA Uganda, we have a role to play, and the same burden is shared with the road users. We need to pause, reflect and make deliberate actions to respect the road whether you’re a pedestrian on the road, cyclist, taxi or bus driver, all lives matter,” he continued.

“This campaign makes us reflect on whether we are doing the right things on the road. Many of these accidents are within our control. This partnership will take us a long way in retarding this curve, bring sanity on the road and ultimately protect lives. That’s why at CCBA Uganda, we came here to spread this awareness about road safety,” he reiterated.

More than 12 people die per day in road accidents in Uganda, translating to more than 3,663 deaths annually. The majority of the victims are pedestrians and Boda Bodas. The acting traffic Director Lawrence Niwabiine attributed the high road deaths and injuries to the behavior of riders, cyclists, and, drivers who tend to see pedestrians as less important people.

Secondly, the need for mindset change among Uganda’s majorly young population is imperative for them to be aware of the need to be safe and also observe healthy living. The World Health Organization has also reported that more than 20% of Uganda’s population is overweight, underlying the need for a national emphasis on healthy living.

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Soroti Fruit Factory on the Spot over governance issues

By
Simon Kabayo
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Officials from the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) have told Parliament’s trade committee that allegations that the corporation’s executive director fired the Board of Directors of Soroti Fruit Factory are baseless.

On Tuesday, 08 February 2022, Soroti West Division MP Hon Jonathan Ebwalu told a plenary sitting on the day that the managers of the factory and UDC were running the factory as a personal business.

Ebwalu added that the managers of the factory were frustrating local farmers by buying fruits from the neighbouring countries like Kenya, Tanzania and DR Congo, yet the factory was supposed to uplift their economic status.

“Farmers are frustrated and are cutting down their trees. They say a big percentage of the fruits is thrown away and the factory takes on only 20 per cent of their fruits. Soroti Fruit Factory has been making losses 10 years in a row,” noted Ebwalu in a meeting with the trade committee on Monday, 21 February 2022.

Appearing before the committee chaired by Hon Mwine Mpaka, Hope Kisitu, the Corporation Secretary/Director Legal Services at UDC said the term of office of members of the factory board expired in September 2020.

She said that the CEO of Soroti Fruit Factory in June 2020, notified the two shareholders – UDC and Teso Tropical Fruits Cooperative Union Limited that there was a change in board leadership, where the directors convened and signed a resolution appointing a new chairperson.

“That resolution reads that Ms Josephine Okot immediately and forthwith ceases to be the chairperson of the board of directors and remains an ordinary director. Mr Paul Echatu is hereby appointed as the chairperson of the board of directors. This resolution is dated 08 June 2020,” said Kisitu.

“The change in board leadership and the governance issues amongst the board, led UDC to recall its five directors and replace them with three interim members. They include the executive director Patrick Bitonder Birungi, myself (Hope Kisitu) and Head of Internal Audit,” she added.

Kisitu told the committee that on 08 September 2020, the board of UDC was still in existence and made a resolution that in accordance with Article 14.2 of the Articles of Soroti Fruits Limited, the UDC nominated directors be recalled with immediate effect.

During the committee meeting, Ebwalu tasked the UDC officials to explain how UDC acquired shares in Soroti Fruit Factory yet UDC 2016 cannot retrospectively own shares in the Factory that was established in 2012.

“Section 33(3) of the UDC Act, 2016 bars UDC of 2016 from taking on assets or liabilities of UDC under Cap 319. The only assets of UDCL that can and could be taken by UDC 2016 are listed under the schedule 2 of the UDC Act 2016; and Soroti Fruits is not one of those entities,” said Ebwalu.

Kisitu clarified the matter saying the Memorandum and Articles of Soroti Fruits Limited indicates the list of shareholders of the company registered in 2018, under the Companies Act; however, UDC became a shareholder of the company in 2010.

Ebwalu also raised concern over quality assurance at Soroti Fruit Factory, saying that brown water was allowed to go into the production of juice, which later caused a product recall.

“This recall was made without board approval which caused a loss of Shs 200 million in 2020,” said Ebwalu.

Hon Susan Amero (Indep., Amuria district) said the recall of their juice from the market posed a serious health risk and tasked the factory officials to explain how the returned juice is disposed of.

“How sure are we as Ugandans that this juice brought back to the factory cannot be repackaged and taken back into the market?” Amero asked.

“Where do you put the juice that has expired or been recalled? We need bank statements on this action,” said committee chair Mwine Mpaka.

Hon Richard Gafabusa (NRM, Bwamba County) called for a forensic audit into the operations of Soroti Fruit Factory and circumstances under which expired juice can be returned.

Felix Angeki, the Quality Assurance Manager at Soroti Fruit Factory said the expired juice returned to the factory is discarded through a storm water drain.

Patricia Bageine Ejalu, the Deputy Executive Director for Standards at the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, told the committee that before certification is issued, they monitor procedures of how non-performing products are handled.

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U.S boosts Uganda’s vaccination efforts with $27m

By
Our Reporter
-
Victoria University vaccinates students, staff against #Covid-19

President Yoweri Museveni has called on the Ministry of Health to provide informed sensitization messages to the public and encourage mass vaccination in the fight against COVID-19 and a fully reopened economy.

“We said 22million people should either have gotten 2 doses of the other vaccines or one of Johnson and Johnson. Then a booster for those of my constituency 50 years and above. In my constituency, there are about 3.5million, plus security personnel, teachers, health workers, boda bodas, bar maids/workers etc. This comes to over six million people for the booster. Let the people know,” he said.

The President also said the message about children aged 12 years and above (about 6million) who are eligible for vaccination should be emphasized.

The President was speaking at a meeting with the USA Ambassador to Uganda H.E Natalie Brown during which she announced a USA financial support of US$27million to Uganda’s vaccination efforts.

“I thank the USA government for this contribution. The USA is a friendly country. Our relatives (The Black people) in the USA now are about 45million there. The American government works with us in many areas. We share the same position against terrorism because of our own experience here. We are a frontline state against organic terrorist. I am very happy that they have made this contribution,” he said.

H.E Natalie Brown said they aim to increase vaccination efforts globally to at least have 70 percent of the countries populations vaccinated by end of December this year.

“The initial effort there are 11 countries in sub-Saharan Africa where the United States of America is focusing its attention including Uganda. The initiative of global Vax goal is to have 70 percent vaccinated by end of September. We have launched this in eleven countries in sub-Saharan Africa including Uganda were we have donated over 12million vaccine doses in addition to support in terms of oxygen, outfitting emergency centres and funding public health fellows,” she said.

Amb. Brown said Uganda was chosen following its very successful vaccination awareness campaign.

“After the Delta variant, working together, we re-invigorated efforts to get people vaccinated and raise awareness. This made quite a difference and that is why Uganda was chosen for this initiative. The success of that effort made us realize that if we intensify what we are doing we can reach that target by September. We have a total of US$27million and we are already in discussions with the Ministry of Health to see what is needed in terms of logistics and all it takes to get shots into the arms of Ugandans so that people can go back to activities and engagements that we enjoyed before the pandemic that has affected us all,” she said.

The State Minister for Health in charge of General Duties, Hon. Anifa Kawooya Bangirana, said in 2021 the Ministry set a target of having 22 million Ugandans fully vaccinated against COVID19. So far 13.5million have got the first dose and while 7.4million are fully vaccinated.

“We still have over 8.7million people who are not yet vaccinated and 6.1million who are partially vaccinated. We welcome the support from the American government which is our biggest vaccine donor and urge them to align their funding with government’s vaccination plan of 2022 for a successful exercise,” she said.

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Former Makerere VC Ddumba vetted for top Kyambogo job as Chancellor whilst Prof. Katunguka’s future becomes uncertain

By
Simon Kabayo
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Former MuK VC, Prof. Ddumba Ssentamu

Members of the Kyambogo University governing Council have reflected on the position of Chancellor which will be vacant effective May following the expiry of Prof JM Sebuwufu’s two terms tenure. Three names were proposed by council members during last week’s meeting that was chaired by Dr. Goretti Nakabugo, the Council Chairperson

The three names proposed included former Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof Ddumba Ssentamu, Prof John Okeddi (who preceded Dr. Nakabugo as Council chairman) and the founding Kyambogo VC Prof Lutalo Bbosa who majority Kyambogo employees would like to see carry the day because they are now nostalgic about those old days. They assert that Bbosa is the man who would successfully oversee the fight against land grabbers at Kyambogo because he knows everything about the close to 1,000 acres of Kyambogo prime land which land grabbers have never stopped to menacingly look at.

Bbosa supporters in Council are now saying Okeddi’s name was floated by people who would want to see land-grabbing succeed because the elderly (nearly senile) scholar from Teso sub region can simply not marshal the zeal to fight or make anyone uncomfortable. They also claim that the name of the much revered Prof Ddumba Ssentamu was fronted by haters who wanted to spoil Lutalo Bbosa’s chances since the two veteran Professors hail from the same ethnic community. As the two seemingly stronger camps of Bbosa and Okeddi battle, Ddumba might carry the day just like he did in Makerere where he surprised skeptics and became new VC after Venascius Baryamureeba at a time he was least expected.

In that race (2013), the bigger fight was between Baryamureeba and Barnabas Nawangwe and Ddumba only got a sympathy vote as many saw him as a consensus candidate to re-unite Makerere after the Baryamureeba–Nawangwe ruinous war.

At their subsequent meetings, Kyambogo Council members will be voting and whoever gets the highest number of votes will have his name sent to the President (the Chief Visitor) to make the formal appointment. Some Council members are already claiming that the rich and mighty who want to see Okeddi carry the day have gone as far as offering financial gratifications to some of the potential electors all aimed at ensuring the frail Professor becomes Kyambogo University Chancellor.

In a related development, Kyambogo University academic staff members have ganged up to oppose the impending reappointment of Prof Elly Katunguka as their Vice Chancellor. They are meeting for their General Assembly meeting on 10th March, 2022 to find some way forward. They are threatening to lay down their tools unless the position of VC is openly competed for as opposed to getting Senate and Council rubber-stamping Katunguka’s reappointment for another 5 years. They are claiming that the incumbent VC has become too powerful to the extent of leveraging on his First Family connections to unilaterally appoint Deans and Heads of Department as opposed to dons electing their preferred colleagues.

Some of them are also claiming that there is a pro-Katunguka candidate who is being groomed to become the Director for Graduate School at Kyambogo yet the person is typically an administrator with no demonstrable background in teaching.

They are also accusing the incumbent of closely working with Arthur Katongole and Bazilio to deflate and render the University Secretary Charles Okello powerless. That the incumbent CEO has also been sidelining senior dons in favor of junior ones while appointing Deans and Heads of Departments. They are also speaking of a plot to frustrate Council Chairperson Dr. Goretti Nakabugo out of Kyambogo so that her Vice Sarah Lubega Babirye and Bright Mugisha become Chairperson and Vice Chairperson respectively. 

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Rumours as Roast and Rhyme organisers remain tight-lipped about performers

By
Our Reporter
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The original Mpola Enjoyments, circa March 2020

The organisers of the forthcoming Roast and Rhyme, Swangz Avenue and Bell Lager remain tight-lipped about who will be performing at the picnic-style event.

According to the organisers, the Reggae Ragga Nyam Nyam edition, slated for Sunday 27th February at Jahazi Pier in Munyonyo will usher the public back “outside” with a bigger and better fun-packed day with friends, chill music, games, roasted meat and cold Bell Lager by the lakeside under the brand’s “Mpola Enjoyments” theme.

On the entertainment front, the event has previously featured live performances from A-Pass, Winnie Nwagi, Jose Chameleone, Azawi, John Blaq and many more.

However, our trusted sources are still being cagey about who will grace the stage this time around.

It’s been rumoured that since this is the first Roast & Rhyme to be held after almost 2 years of lockdown, the organisers have something big planned.

It’s worth recalling that in June 2020, Swangz Avenue and other players officially put out word of rapper Rick Ross performing at “the first post-COVID event”, but didn’t give details as to when the show would happen.

Could this be it?

Rozay, as he’s sometimes known, has previously worked with reggae and dancehall artists like Skip Marley and Konshens, in addition to headlining the 2016 High Vibes Roots and Reggae Festival in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

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CSOs task Gov’t to address and prevent forced evictions in Kiryandongo

By
Our Reporter
-
CSOs task Gov't to address and prevent forced evictions in Kiryandongo

The Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Uganda are concerned about the growing forced land evictions that are rampantly being meted against the people of Kiryandongo district and have called for a robust quick response.

In several news reports, it has been noted that more than 30,000 families living on approximately 9500 acres of land in Kiryandongo district in Western Uganda were forcefully and violently evicted from their lands in November 2017 despite their occupancy being legally recognized.

In a joint statement issued by Oxfam Uganda, Action Aid Uganda, The Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Uganda), Transparency International Uganda, and others on Tuesday, they said the issue was brought to the attention of the government which promised to deal with the situation under the then Minister of Lands Betty Olive Namisango Kamya but to this end, nothing has been done for the affected persons.

“We would like to call on the government to respect the principles of the constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995. The constitution states that land belongs to the citizens of Uganda, and the right to own property is further recognized in the Constitution of Uganda under Articles 26 and 8A and Objective XIV of the National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy (NODPSP),” the CSOs noted.

The evictions which were further escalated in 2020-2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic followed by lockdown hit the country, paved the way for three multinational companies to carry out large-scale agribusiness.

“All evictions must be carried out in a manner acceptable by national law that is compatible with International Human Rights Standards and in accordance with principles of reasonableness and proportionality depending on the particular circumstances as stated in paragraphs 11 and 14 of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, General Comment No. 7 on the right to adequate housing: forced evictions,” they said.

Uganda has also ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), which affirm this right, stating that it may only be encroached upon in public interest according to the law but in this case has not been procedurally respected by the government.

Prior to carrying out any evictions, especially those involving large groups, all feasible alternatives must be explored in consultation with the affected persons, with a view to avoiding or minimizing, the need to use force as stated in the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, General Comment No. 7 on the right to adequate housing: forced evictions.

“Legal remedies or procedures should be provided to those affected by eviction orders. All the affected individuals have a right to adequate compensation for any affected property, both personal and real,” the CSOs emphasized.

It should also be noted that the economic and social rights, including the rights to food, housing, water, health, work and an adequate standard of living, are directly affected by land management decisions. These decisions can either ensure the enjoyment of these rights or lead to the weakening of social safety nets, thereby hampering the realization of these rights, which have been witnessed in the Kiryandongo land evictions.

“Overall, the respect, protection and fulfilment of the right to own property and adequate housing is therefore of utmost importance given the dire implications of its violations. The linkages between all these rights can ultimately be a major threat to the enjoyment of the right to life therefore the government should sensitively be cognizant of this.”

“We would like to further remind the government of its obligations; The obligation of States is to refrain from, and protect against, forced evictions from home(s) and land and this arises from several international legal instruments that protect the human right to adequate housing and other related human rights.”

The Civil Society said there have been cases of severe rape of women, illegal arrests, and gross violation of human rights by some security operatives in communities of Kiryandongo during the evictions.

“We condemn acts of rape, intimidation, illegal arrests, and gross violation of human rights meted upon communities of Kiryandongo by some security operatives whose sole aim is to serve and protect.”

The CSOs called upon the government to further take the following action to curb this situation:

  • To revisit the land allocations made under the 1995 Presidential Directive to ensure that all subdivisions of ranches that were made are implemented through Kiryandongo DLB.
  • Order Kiryandongo DLB make details of all subdivisions of ranches and land allocations to squatters publicly available, issue outstanding land allocation certificates and facilitate the land registration process and issue leaseholds to the land allottees.
  • Immediately allow renegotiations (dialogues) between affected communities and multi-national companies to resolve grievances arising out of the forced evictions and inadequate compensations.
  • Allow negotiations for those wrongly evicted from their lands to be returned to their lands, the possession of the lands restored, and compensation adequately paid for any loss of crops or developments they may have made on the lands.
  • Government security operatives to desist from engaging in acts of gross violation of human rights that have been sporadically reported by the affected communities of Kiryandongo.
  • Government to immediately release these lands back to the community who depend on them for their livelihoods and food.
  • To immediately release legal representatives who have been engaged in supporting legal actions on behalf of the affected persons.
  • To relocate the evicted communities to other suitable lands and provide fair and adequate compensation for loss of their lands, developments made thereon along with support for livelihood restoration as required under international standards.
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New Health Bill seeks to impose jail or Shs4m fine for Ugandans against #Covid-19 vaccination

By
Simon Kabayo
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vaccination cards

Parliament’s Committee on Health has started the consideration of the Public Health (Amendment) Bill, 2021 that among other things seeks to ensure mandatory COVID-19 vaccination.

According to the proposal, those who do not get vaccinated against COVID-19 will be fined Shs4 million or a jail term of six months.

The object of the bill is to amend the Public Health Act to repeal the obsolete provisions; to revise the fines for offenses committed under the Act; to repeal the provisions on venereal diseases. Building and construction and public sewers and to repeal the venereal diseases Act, Cap, 284 and the Immunisation Act, 2017;

Appearing before the committee on Monday, 21 February 2022, the health minister, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, said that the amendment is important because the highest fine in the Public Health Act is Shs 2,000, which needed to be revised.

Dr Aceng said that the old law did not include emerging diseases like Ebola, HIV/AIDs, Marburg and COVID-19 among others. Aceng also revealed that the bill is intended to regulate funeral homes in the local governments they operate in.

According to Aceng, for those who will not get vaccinated, the bill proposes tough penalties.

“The bill has a section on vaccination and immunisation as a public health measure to protect the vulnerable. When we introduce new vaccines, we need to get a mass of people so we create mass immunity. It is important that whoever is supposed to be vaccinated is vaccinated,” she said.

The committee chairperson, Dr Charles Ayume, said the bill was long overdue to ensure the safety and health of Ugandans.

“By the time these things are presented, there is a lot of consultation, benchmarking and comparison with the World Health Organisation guidelines, for someone refusing to vaccinate, they are endangering the community near them,” Ayume said.

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