ress Release

April 29, 2011

Act to Avert Worsening Human Rights Situation in Uganda

International Center for Policy and Conflict (ICPC) express grave concern with the miserable human rights situation in Uganda. President Yoweri Museveni is proofing profoundly repressive and despotic. He is extremely intolerant to criticism however constructive. The current events unfolding of heavy-handed rule by President Yoweri Museveni are rabid, appalling and tragic. There is no freedom in Uganda. There are serious violations of freedom of expression and assembly.

The consequences of these dictatorial edicts if not urgently reversed are likely to have adverse effect on the wider East Africa Community.

We are calling upon the Presidents of Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and Rwanda to decisively act and ensure that situation is urgently reversed. It is against the Principles enshrined in the East Africa Community Treaty on democratic tents and human rights. East Africans cannot afford to sit back while their colleagues across the border are being brutalized. Further the African Commission Human and Peoples Rights and United Nations Human Rights Council should take appropriate action.

The East Africans should stand firm against corrosive and dehumanizing President Museveni’s tyranny. The People of Uganda deserve better. The human rights violations going in Uganda deserve more attention than they have so far received.

Human rights conditions have deteriorated markedly over the last few weeks. The government seems determined to execute a repression policy and the harassment of opposition party members by state institutions and supporters of the ruling party. The direct involvement of ranking government officials and state security forces marks a new and worrisome trend.

Not only have the police and military and police forces failed to protect people from human rights abuses but they are now carrying out abuses themselves. Peaceful protests on high cost of living, declined economic and political conditions are being dismantled violently by state security forces.

The government must end the culture of impunity before human rights conditions deteriorate further with likelihood of turning into a new conflict. We are calling on President Museveni and his government to re-establish the rule of law and respect human rights of the people of Uganda.

Signed by



Ndung’u Wainaina

Executive Director
International Center for Policy and Conflict
P.O.Box 44564-00100,Nairobi, KENYA
9th Flr Hazina Towers,Utalii Lane Off University Way
Tel: +254 020 221 97 57

E-Mail: admin@icpcafrica.org
Website: www.icpcafrica.org

Chairperson LCV Kasese commissions the E-society resource centre

“This is historical moment for Kasese District Local Government” these were the words of almost every speaker at the commissioning of the e-society resource centre at Rukoki District headquarter in Kasese District yesterday the 20^th April 20011.

The e-society is an online platform that has been created by Rwenzori Information centre network (RIC-NET) together with KALI, IWDP and GOOD Hope with support from IICD, HIVOs and Kasese district local government. It is hoped that the e-Society will answer the issue of inadequate access to timely and relevant information, a key aspect that limits citizen's effective participation in the planning and monitoring processes in the district.

While presenting his speech the outgoing chairperson LCV Kasese Rev.Canon Julius Kithaghenda said” if someone offers you a gift, you the receiver must do three things: one receive the gift, appreciate the gift and then use the gift to your benefit” he therefore called upon the people of Kasese district to use the e-society for their benefit since they had already received the facility, and they have appreciated.

Speaking at the same function, the representative from HIVOs Fieke Jansen thanked Kasese district local government for have accepted RIC-NET and RWECO their development partners operating in the area to initiate the e-society centre at the district, she also said as hivos, they are also learning more from Kasese as per the operation of the e-society. More stories coming soon

RWECO Observers disseminate their election monitoring report

Let us build our Uganda!

These were the words of the RDC Kabarole District during the dissemination of the election monitoring report presented by Rweco observers.The RDC said every society has its weakness but the best thing to ensure that all Ugandans commit themselves towards building this country. He further said there is great improvement in the way elections are being conducted in this country compared to those of the early 80's.

Besigye, Mao taken to Court

Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader, Kizza Besigye and his Democratic Party (DP) counterpart, Nobert Mao, have been taken to court for leading 'walk to work demonstrations' against high commodity prices.

Besigye was held at Kasangati Police post for several hours after Police blocked him from leading a group of his supporters to Kampala city.

Mao has been produced to Nakawa magistrate court over the same. He was in the morning arrested with some of his party members at Ntinda, a Kampala suburb heading to the city center on foot.

Besigye was arrested at Lutete on Gayaza road with seven other people who had joined him in a demonstration called by the opposition.

Although the Police insisted that Besigye was misleading the public into uncalled for demonstration, the opposition leader said it was his right to demonstrate.

"If you don't want to arrest me, don't waste my time. I am an ordinary person. I have no weapon, power and no body buys me food," Besigye argued with the Police before he was arrested.

photos

PAC writes and releases election report for Teso sub region

PAC Uganda on the 17th-18th of March 2011 conducted election report write retreat at Eneku Training village in Soroti district and there after held a press conference at PAC premises. Among the people present were the constituency and zonal election observers who represented all the districts of Teso sub region, Local and national journalists, the CEW-IT team, some of the persons who were negatively affected by this election like Mr. Emusut from Bukedea district which happened to be a case study district in Teso sub region.

Al Shabaab issues fresh attack threat

Police have put the public on high alert again after security authorities received another threat from suspected al Shabaab militants. Police chief Kale Kayihura yesterday issued a warning to all police units in the country to be on high alert and “be on the lookout for any suspicious material and explosive accessories.”

This is the third terror alert since the year begun. In a radio message, Gen. Kayihura said they have received information that terrorists may strike anytime, especially in crowded places. “All commanders are directed to step up deployments and patrols at vital installations, social places, barracks and police stations in your areas,” Gen. Kayihura said.

Dissemination of preliminary election observation report in West Nile

Dissemination of preliminary election observation report conducted by CEFORD in West Nile under CCEDU/CEW-IT took place on 4th April 2011 at CEFORD head offices in Arua.

The participants included the RDCs the Retuning officers, Elders, Inter Religious Council, long term sub county level Observers, Civil Society Organizations, Media and Political Parties' Administrators. In all, it was attended by 83 (69 M &14 F) participants
The participants were all eager and willing to share their experiences in the recently concluded elections. This made the whole session lively and issues that were not captured but happened in the various locations were shared.
At the end recommendations were proposed for improvement during the 2016 general elections.