Broad Coalition Presses President for Invitation to UN Special Rapporteur

June 15, 2011

 

 

During the April 2011 protests over the rising costs of commodities and the arrest of opposition leaders, police and military responded to protesters with live ammunition in Kampala, Gulu, Mbale, and Masaka, leaving at least nine unarmed people dead. The known circumstances of the deaths to date indicate that the use of lethal force was unnecessary and unjustified. The government has arrested hundreds of protesters and put significant resources into investigating alleged acts of looting, arson, and destruction of property, but little effort has gone into investigating killings by security forces, the groups said.

 

Some government officials have contended that those killed were violent protesters. One victim's family was told at the morgue that they were not permitted to retrieve the body because "all these people died while attempting to overthrow the government."

 

"Blaming the victims is a weak ploy to distract attention from the actions of the security forces," said Arthur Larok of the Uganda National NGO Forum. "The government needs to determine what really happened and to make sure that those responsible are held responsible."

 

One police officer has been arrested in the shooting of 2-year-old Julian Nalwanga by police in Masaka. In a May 17 opinion article by Museveni in several Ugandan newspapers, he referred to the shooting as a "criminal killing." The government has said the police officer will face trial before military courts, despite a 2009 ruling by the Constitutional Court barring prosecution of civilians before military jurisdictions. No one else has been arrested in connection with the other deaths of unarmed civilians.

 

Impunity for serious crimes by members of the security forces, especially during political demonstrations, persists in Uganda, the coalition, which includes 95 Ugandan organizations, said. Ugandan law guarantees the right to free assembly, speech, and association, but in practice the government has often responded to the exercise of these rights with firearms and lethal force.

 

In September 2009, at least 40 people were killed by security forces during two days of protests in Kampala after the authorities sought to restrict the movement of Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, the cultural leader of the Buganda ethnic group. Human Rights Watch documented numerous instances in which unarmed protesters and bystanders died after police and military police used live ammunition to scare people off the streets or shot into people's homes. Despite numerous commitments by government ministers and Uganda's parliament to investigate those events, no one has been held accountable for those killings, and the police and soldiers responsible have never been punished.

 

"We have seen the government promise investigations before, but in the end, nothing happens and perpetrators remain in active service," said Maria Burnett, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. "The president should show that things will be different this time and listen to civil society by ensuring an independent investigation with international expertise."

 

The groups also called upon Uganda, as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, to cooperate fully with the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression and invite these international experts to Uganda. In 1986 Museveni's government extended an invitation and was host to the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions. Uganda should issue standing invitations to all special rapporteurs and UN working groups to visit Uganda, the groups said. This engagement with the UN would facilitate the necessary investigations and help ensure present and future accountability.

 

"An invitation to the Special Rapporteurs would demonstrate that Uganda is committed to rule of law and understands the importance of accountability," said Mohammed Ndifuna, chief executive officer at HURINET-Uganda. "It is time for the government to stop ignoring killings during demonstrations."

 

The Ugandan NGO, Individual, and Union Sign Ons:

 

Human Rights Network (HURINET-U), Kampala

National NGO Forum, Kampala

Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), Kampala

MAYANK Anti-Corruption Coalition, Moyo, Adjumani, Yumbe, Arua, Nebbi and Koboko

Human Rights Focus (HURIFO), Gulu

Uganda Youth Network, Kampala

African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN), Kampala

Stella Mukasa, Kampala

Pallisa Civil Society Organizations' Network (PACONET), Pallisa

East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, Kampala

Livelihoods Improvement Programme (LIPRO) Uganda

Rushenyi Youths Peace for Nature, Ntungamo

Advocates for Public International Law in Uganda (APILU), Kampala

Community Development Resource Network (CDRN), Kampala

Western Ankole Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), Ankole

Coalition of Private Schools Teachers Association (COUPSTA), Kampala

Recreation and Development Programme (RDP), Masindi

Uganda Governance Monitoring Platform, Kampala

Peter Wandera, Development Network of Indigenous Voluntary Assocations ( DENIVA), Kampala

Ahmed Wetaka, Mbale

Aggrey Mugisha, Chairman, Uganda National Civic Education Consortium (UNACO), Kampala

Katushabe Edrine, Kabale

Mugamba Ronald Kakembo, Human Rights Centre Uganda, Kampala

Flavia Zalwango, Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum Uganda (HRAPF), Nakulabye, Kampala

Angel Valeria, Member, Citizen Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU), Kampala

Sydey Etima-Ojara, Programme Officer, Democratic Accountability, Democratic Governance and Accountability Programme (DGAP), Kampala

Human Rights Target (HRT), Luwero

Youth Revival Association (YRA), Kampala

Kasubi Community Development Association (KAKODA), Wakiso

Kalangala Human Rights Defenders (KHRD), Kalangala

Bukoggolwa Widows and Orphans Care Centre (BWOCC), Mpigi

Pastoral Women Alliance to Break Cultural Chains (PWABC), Kiboga

Action for Human Rights and Civic Awareness (AHURICA), Kayunga

Lira Women Peace Initiative (LIWEPI), Lira

Human Rights and Paralegal Services (HUPAS), Busia

Rashid Bunya, Member, Citizen Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU ), Kibuli, Kampala

The Uganda Parliamentary Press Association, Kampala

The Human Rights Network for Journalists, Kampala

Northern Uganda Journalist Press Association, Gulu

Eastern Uganda Journalists Press Association, Busia

Kabale Journalists Press Association, Kabale

Action for Human Rights and Civic Awareness, Kayunga, Mukono

Rwenzori Peace Bridge for Reconciliation, Kasese

Gomba Paralegals Association, Gomba, Butambala

National Human Rights Association of Uganda, Mbale

Crispy Kaheru, National Coordinator, Citizen Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU), Kampala

Janet Tuhirwe, Bushenyi

Jenga Afrika, Kampala

International Anti Corruption Theatre Movement (IATM), Kampala

Nakaweesi Solome Kimbugwe- Independent Consultant and Feminist Activist, Kampala

Hope after Rape, Kampala

Platform for Labor Action, Kampala

Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence (RECESVID), Kampala

Enid Wamani, Kampala

Uganda Health & Science Press Association (UHSPA), Kampala

Western Ankole Civil Society Forum - WACSOF (Bushenyi, Sheema, Buhweju, Rubirizi and Mitooma Districts)

Twerwaneho Listeners Club, Fort Portal

Human Rights Network for Journalists, Kampala

Global Rights Alert, Kampala

Soroti Development Association & NGOs Network (SODANN), Soroti

Support Initiative for People with atypical sex Development (SIPD), Kampala

Justice and Reconciliation Project, Gulu

Mathias Mangeni, Coordinator, Human Rights Paralegal Advisory Services, Kampala

Public Affairs Centre of Uganda (PAC Uganda), Soroti

‘Kapchorwa Civil Society Organizations' Alliance (KACSOA), Kapchorwa

Coalition of Private Schools Teachers' Association (COUPSTA), Kampala

Community Development and Welfare Initiatives (CODI), Luwero

Facilitation for Peace and Development, Lira

Mid-Western Uganda Region Anti Corruption Coalition (MIRAC), Bunyoro

Tororo Civil Society Organizations Network (TOCINET), Tororo

Bugiri District NGO Forum, Bugiri

Africa Leadership Institute (AFLI), Kampala

Kisoro NGO Forum, Kisoro

Gulu NGO Forum, Gulu

Masindi District NGO Forum, Masindi

Bugisu Civil Society Network, Bugisu

Iganga District NGO Forum, Iganga

The Apac Anti corruption Coalition, Apac

Apac NGO Link Forum, Apac

Rwenzori Anti Corruption Coalition, Rwenzori

Kamwenge District Development Organization, Kamwenge

Kabarole Research and Resource Center, Kabarole

Action for Development (ACFODE), Kampala

Uganda National Farmers' Federation, Kampala

Uganda National Teachers' Union, Kampala

National Debate Council, Kampala

Dora K. Musinguzi, Executive Director, Uganda Network on Law, Ethics and HIV/AIDS (UGANET), Kampala

Refugee Law Project, Kampala

Eastern Africa Media Institute, Kampala

Uganda Muslims Youth Assembly (UMYA), Kampala

Uganda Media Development Foundation (UMDF), Kampala

Platform for Citizens Participation and Accountability, Kampala

Busoga Media Network, Jinja

Rwenzori Press Club, Kasese

Kitara Union of Media Practitioners, Hoima

 

International Sign Ons:

 

Human Rights Watch (HRW), Kampala, London, UK and New York, USA

Tchérina Jerolon, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Paris, France

ENOUGH Project, Washington, DC, USA

East African School of Human Rights, Nairobi, Kenya

Human Rights First, New York, USA

RESOLVE, Washington, DC, USA

Foreign Policy In Focus, Washington, DC, USA

Africa Action, Washington, DC, USA

Africa Faith and Justice Network, Washington, DC, USA

Health GAP, Global Access Project, New York, USA