• What is UNN?
  • Why UNN?
  • Our Team
  • Support Us
Thursday, June 8, 2023
  • Login
  • Home
  • Featured stories
  • Editors Choice
  • Trending Stories
  • News
  • Africa Today
  • Opinion
  • Literature
  • Videos
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured stories
  • Editors Choice
  • Trending Stories
  • News
  • Africa Today
  • Opinion
  • Literature
  • Videos
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
UNN Times
No Result
View All Result
Home Editors Choice

Uganda Human Rights Chief Attacks Cabinet for Attempting to Grabs its Powers

Moses Kalaire | UNN Times ReporterbyMoses Kalaire | UNN Times Reporter
December 21, 2022
in Editors Choice, Featured stories, News, Uganda
0
Uganda Human Rights Chief Attacks Cabinet for Attempting to Grabs its Powers
8
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

KAMPALA – Cabinet’s resolution to start a human rights sub-committee has attracted criticism from the Uganda Human Rights Commission -UHRC, Chairperson – Mariam Wangadya, describing the move as an attempt to usurp the mandate of her organ, contrary to the 1995 Constitution.

The commission was established to monitor the human rights situation in the country in wake of Uganda’s violent and turbulent history that had characterised past regimes, which practiced arbitrary arrests, detention without trial, torture, and brutal repression with impunity on the part of security organs.

RELATED STORIES

Ugandans Run to Court Seeking to Nullify Anti Homosexuality Act

Ugandans Run to Court Seeking to Nullify Anti Homosexuality Act

May 30, 2023
Biden Threatens Uganda with Sanctions Over Anti-Homosexuality Law

Biden Threatens Uganda with Sanctions Over Anti-Homosexuality Law

May 30, 2023
MTN Uganda Gives NSSF Ugx31.5bn in Dividend

MTN Uganda Gives NSSF Ugx31.5bn in Dividend

May 30, 2023
Museveni Approves Anti-Homosexuality Law

Museveni Approves Anti-Homosexuality Law

May 29, 2023

Wangandya’s outburst followed a October 31, 2022 cabinet meeting under the chairmanship of President Yoweri Museveni, which resolved to name a nine-member sub-committee spearheaded by the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao to investigate the alleged human rights abuses in the country.

Mao, who pushed for the establishment of the Subcommittee, said it would provide an institutional framework at a strategic level to spearhead a coordinated and holistic approach to human rights enforcement in the country.

Speaking at the swearing-in of three UHRC Commissioners, Wangandya condemned the cabinet for establishing a separate unit to follow up on human rights issues in the country instead of empowering her body, which is constitutionally mandated to handle such problems.

“We have an abled Chairperson; very abled Commissioners; and competent staff. What government should do is arm us with the necessary resources, to effectively deliver on our mandate instead of creating a cabinet committee or whatever desk to attempt to take over our roles.

“We have not failed to work. We have simply been starved of resources, ” complained Wandagya, making reference to her previous position as a Deputy Inspectorate of Government – IGG to justify her capability to lead a committed team of Commissioners to execute their mandate.

She noted that government needed to increase the Commission’s funding from Ugx19b to ugx58b, annually for them to ably execute their mandate. She said that with the available funding, they can only foot bills such as rent for their head offices and the 14 regional offices, in addition to some minor issues.

She said that they lack sufficient cars for transporting staff to the field.

The three commissioners who were sworn in on Tuesday at a ceremony presided over by Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera at the Court of Appeal in Kampala are Simeo Nsubuga, Alex Omara Apitta, and Rtd Col Stephen Basaalirwa. The trio joined the commission head – Wangadya and three others including Shifrah Lukwago, Crispin Kugiza Kaheru, and Jacklet Atuhaire Rwabukurukuru.

Justice Buteera observed that the appointment of the three commissioners came at a time when there was a public outcry about the rights violations.

“The process of handling complaints on human rights violations must ensure that victims receive effective redress expeditiously and that the perpetrators are held accountable for the human rights violations,” said Buteera, before calling upon the commission to ensure that as promoters of human rights and freedoms, their work depended on cooperation, collaboration and coordination with other state organs, especially the judiciary.

According to the UHRC annual report, in 2021, 3,624 complaints were registered, 602 of which were recorded as raising from human rights violations as guided by the Commission’s admissibility criteria, which number reflects a 9 per cent increment.

Article 52 (1) of the Uganda Constitution lays down the functions of the Commission as to investigate, at its own initiative or on a complaint made by any person or group of persons against the violation of any human right; visit jails, prisons, and places of detention or related facilities with a view of assessing and inspecting conditions of the inmates and make recommendations; establish a continuing program of research, education, and information to enhance respect of human rights;

The other functions are; to recommend to Parliament effective measures to promote human rights including the provision of compensation to victims of violations of human rights, or their families; to create and sustain within society the awareness of the provisions of the Constitution as the fundamental law of the people of Uganda and educate and encourage the public to defend this Constitution at all times against all forms of abuse and violation among other functions.

Additional reporting by URN      

 

Tags: Human Rights AbusesKidnappingsUganda Human Right Commissions
Previous Post

Court Martials Have No Authority on Civilians – rules Justice Elizabeth Musoke

Next Post

Suspected Land Grabber Who Razed down Widow’s Fence Granted Bail

Related Posts

Uganda could Backtrack on UN Human Rights Office Mandate

bySophie Mutesi | UNN Times Reporter
February 16, 2023
0
Uganda could Backtrack on UN Human Rights Office Mandate

KAMPALA –High level discussions are on-going between the Ugandan government and the United Nations- Office of the High Commissioner for...

Read more

Police Silence Suspected Kidnappers of Gomba Pastor

bySophie Mutesi | UNN Times Reporter
February 14, 2023
0
Security Guard on Run after Killing Rival over a Woman

MBARARA – Police Flying Squad operatives shot and killed three people suspected of masterminding the kidnap of Pastor Mary Byarisya...

Read more

Nakaseke MP-Mayanja’s Bodyguard Kidnapped

byRonald Mugabi | UNN Times Reporter
February 9, 2023
0
Nakaseke MP-Mayanja’s Bodyguard Kidnapped

LUWERO – Unknown gunmen have reportedly kidnapped Khalid Ssebi - the Nakaseke Central legislator, Allan Mayanja Ssebunya’s private bodyguard. Ssebi’s...

Read more

Kidnapper Kills kid after Parents Fail to pay Ransom

byMoses Kalaire | UNN Times Reporter
January 3, 2023
0
Luuka Man Killed in Suspected Arson Attack, Father Assaults Son to Death

JINJA –Police in Busoga North have mounted a search for Waiswa Katende, who is suspected to have killed a seven-year-old...

Read more

Prelates Want Government to Account for Missing Persons

byRonald Mugabi | UNN Times Reporter
December 23, 2022
0
Prelates Want Government to Account for Missing Persons

KAMPALA – Government has been tasked to offer Ugandans a Christmas gift of accounting for every person who has remained...

Read more

Sheikh Mwanje Appeals On Muslims Unity Against ‘Common Enemy’

byRonald Mugabi | UNN Times Reporter
December 7, 2022
0
Sheikh Mwanje Appeals On Muslims Unity Against ‘Common Enemy’

KAMPALA - Sheikh Yahya Mwanje, the deputy Amir of the Jamu’iyyat Dawatil Salafiya -Tabliq has called the entire Muslim community...

Read more
Next Post
Suspected Land Grabber Who Razed down Widow’s Fence Granted Bail

Suspected Land Grabber Who Razed down Widow's Fence Granted Bail

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

About us

UNN is a new people powered TV channel, Radio station and Newspaper leading the revolution. We’re a media outlet focused on inspiring and empowering you while telling the truth, because as they say, the truth will set you free.

Recent

Ugandans Run to Court Seeking to Nullify Anti Homosexuality Act

Biden Threatens Uganda with Sanctions Over Anti-Homosexuality Law

MTN Uganda Gives NSSF Ugx31.5bn in Dividend

Museveni Approves Anti-Homosexuality Law

Why Junior Minister-Nandutu Lost Bid to Block her Trial in Iron Sheet Theft

Does Environmental Justice in Uganda Matter Anymore?

Follow Us

Tweets by GetUNN

Facebook

© 2023 UNN Times

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured stories
  • Editors Choice
  • Trending Stories
  • News
  • Africa Today
  • Opinion
  • Literature
  • Videos
  • Sports

© 2023

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.