Police Brutality: An upcoming MP speaks out.

No amount of words can express the anguish and pain of watching innocent Ugandans being gunned down just for letting their voices be heard. No conviction sentence can be long enough to pay for the crimes against humanity committed in such a short period – in broad day light.Fellow Ugandans, how long shall we stay silent? How many more must die before we all come out in unison to condemn and even demand the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Commander in Chief of such criminals? Where are you mothers of this land? Where are you fathers? Brothers and sisters, shall you stay in your confines of your comfort zones as more blood defiles our land?

I say again, this impunity must stop and there is no one to stop it but all of us – Ugandans who love our mother land.It makes one wonder, is it just for the love of power that you are killing your own ‘grandchildren’ or are you protecting what has become your cash-cow? We are aware that you and your mafias have robbed this country clean and have left we – your grandchildren with debt that even our own grandchildren may have to pay. Could this be the real reason you are murdering innocent blood?

Mr. Dictator Sir, I would like to remind you that 37 years ago, you claimed you were fighting for democracy for this country, have you totally lost your memory or were you simply fooling Ugandans? Today, you cannot stand seeing the love Ugandans have showed Hon. Kyagulanyi wherever he goes. How is it possible is the ‘democracy’ you fought for does not allow a Uganda to wave to his fans and supporters?

When you say, you will compensate those who have lost their lives, when you kill a man’s only son, is the money you are going to give going to raise sons for him so that his lineage will continue? Or will your peanuts be there to walk a girl down the aisle on her wedding day? Be informed that no amount of money can replace lives.

I know you are used to grazing cows and can pick and kill one for beef at any time you please, Ugandans are not cows that you can just slaughter and get away with it. The world is watching. The cameras are rolling. The pens are noting. You either stop this madness now and ask for amnesty while you still have a chance, or …………..!I call upon all those who haven’t spoken against this brutality to please come out and join the struggle to stop this slaughter. Do not wait until one of yours becomes a statistics. Speak up now.

I continue to thank Ugandans for coming out boldly and letting your voice be heard and those who have come out to condemn the bloodshed.

People Power. Our Power!

NYEKO DERRICKNUP FLAG BEARER – MP MAKINDYE EAST

The right to political participation: An overview to women and power in Uganda

The right to political participation under international law, is deemed to be the basis for the realization and protection of other human rights. It gives citizens of a given society whether primitive or civilized to have the authority and power to define the destiny and management of the affairs of the society. The international legal framework under the core-human rights treaties and in particular Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights defines State obligations to ensure genuine enjoyment of the right without any discrimination. 

In Africa, the African Union has been clear since its establishment on the right of political participation understanding well that it is vital for each countries’ independence and economic sustainability. As such, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Good governance of 2007 declared affirmatively under Article 2 that the principles of democracy, human rights and rule of law are fundamental principles of sustainable peace in the region and member states should adhere to ensure and promote free and fair political processes including the independence of the judiciary. 

However, despite the existing legal framework including the national constitutions of many of the African countries, women have not yet fully given the opportunity to participate in the decisions that affect their day to day lives. Countries like Uganda for example, despite the available data that the NRM government has increased the direct participation of women in the parliament and cabinet, there is less evidence that such numbers have influenced change and purely represented the ideas of women in their constituencies. There are questions related to whether such women representatives have the power to express their views and take decisions in their capacity without being coerced. Further, despite the national and international efforts for development, women in Uganda and especially those in rural areas are still prone to extreme poverty and violence which is a clear sign of a gender that is still denied the right to define their existence in society. 

Should economic empowerment be considered vital if we want to have effective political participation of women? 

Human Rights activism & Social Media

This period has been challenging to many Ugandans and especially the young people who have tried to exercise their fundamental freedoms and rights. The government has
suppressed whoever has tried to build democratic platforms and hundreds have been
tortured and disappeared as many lost their lives in the struggle. For instance, in the past years including the recent riots in Kampala, over 55 people civilians died due to police brutality and excessive use of force by heavily armed personnel. How can we use social media to bring about worldwide awareness to the injustices in Uganda?

Date: Friday 4 December 2020

Time: 19.30 Kampala time / 17.30 CET / 16.30 BST / 11.30 Eastern

Moderators: Nico Schoonderwoerd & Patricia Namyalo

Guests:

Helen C Epstein

Author of Another Fine Mess: America, Uganda, and the War on Terror/ Visiting Professor Global Public Health and Human Rights at Bard College.

Helen Epstein has served as a consultant for such organizations as UNICEF, the World Bank and Human Rights Watch and writes frequently for The New York Review of Books, the Nation and other magazines.  She worked on health programs in Uganda from 1993-5 and in the 2000s, and has returned to the country many times as a reporter.  She has spoken about Uganda’s human rights crisis at the US State Department and at many US colleges and universities. 

Robert Amsterdam

He is the founding partner of Amsterdam & Partners LLP, a boutique international law firm with offices in London and Washington DC. The law firm is well known for its pro bono practice in human rights, including the defense of the award-winning democracy activist Dr. Chee Soon Juan of Singapore, Ilya Ponomarev, an exiled Russian State Duma Deputy, Maurice Kamto, leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, a Ugandan MP and opposition leader, and Tundu Lissu, leader of the CHADEMA party in Tanzania.

Dr. Daniel Kawuma

Dr. Daniel Kawuma (Pharm. D) is a Pharmacist currently practicing in the United States. He is a Founder and Board Chairman of Ugandan Diaspora Company (Temba) and the director of Diaspora Health Network.
He is a strong advocate for nurturing the ideals of internationalism & multiculturalism as a bridge towards global peace in addition to sowing the seeds of community service through volunteering and selfless leadership.

Many remain under arrest after Bobi Wine protests

We have found out that many of the people that were arrested following the Kyagulanyi arrest on 20 November are still in custody. They were not allowed to contact family members at police and were rushed to court and remanded without legal representation.

No. List of People Remanded by Magistrate Courts

1 Anwari, Yusuf

2 Anyela, Musa

3 Ariho, Emmanuel 

4 Asiimwe, Joshua 

5 Ategeka, Joseph 

6 Bailunda, Arafat

7 Bwambale, Godfrey

8 Byamukama, Tempson

9 Gumoshebe, Bebish

10 Kaggwa, Richard

11 Kakembo, Abbas

12 Kasadha, Moses 

13 Kasozi, Shafik 

14 Katabarwa, Aloysious

15 Kayemba, Musa

16 Kayiza, Anderson

17 Kibetion, Sadak 

18 Kizito, Hassan 

19 Kyeyune, Martin

20 Lubega, Ashiraf 

21 Lukyamuzi, Richard

22 Lukyamuzi, Sharif 

23 Marisimu, Brian

24 Masereka, Robert

25 Mayanja, Ronald 

26 Mpimbrya, Frank 

27 Mugume, Steven

28 Muhangi, Christopher 

29 Muhindo, Jimmy

30 Mukomba, Godfrey

31 Mulindwa, Yuda

32 Mutebi, Brian

33 Mwebaze, Onesmus

34 Mwesigye, Steven 

35 Namanya, Alex

36 Ndyamuhaki, Dan 

37 Nkalubo, Moses

38 Nkonwa, Murshid

39 Onyango, Emmanuel 

40 Othieno, Kennedy 

41 Semo, Eddy 

42 Sentamu, Muzamir 

43 Ssembatya, Sulaiman 

44 Ssempijja, Robert

45 Ssemusu, Gerald

46 Twesigye, Moses

47 Wasso, Arnold

Nsibambi campaign attack

On Monday 9 November the attack on the campaign of Yusuf Nsibambi was filmed and shared on Social Media.

Yusuf Nsibambi is a FDC candidate of Wawokota North district.

According to New Vision journalist Simon Ssekidde Police Commander Frank Natamba fired teargas canisters to disperse hundreds of the supporters who were following him. The campaign was accused of not following up on Covid-19 regulations.

This is another example of how Covid-19 regulations are abused by Ugandan government to prevent non-NRM candidates from campaigning.