Full MA & PhD Scholarships for Sub-Saharan African Students: For applicants from Sub-Saharan African countries with an excellent academic record the DRD (Development Research Division) of the DAAD-funded South African-German Centre for Development Research and Criminal Justice offers a limited number of DAAD merit scholarships per year.

Scholarships are available for full-time students of:

• the MA and M Econ in Development Studies,
• the Master in Public Administration,
• the MA in Development Management (Bochum Programme),
• the PhD in International Development Studies.

Scholarships include monthly allowances of 650 Euro plus travel allowances for Master candidates and 900 Euro plus travel allowances for PhD candidates.

Requirements for application and application procedure

• Scholarship applicants are adviced to carefully read about the specific entry requirements and course application procedure of the programme of their choice.

Candidates for;

• The Masters Programme in Public Administration (MPA),
• The MA and M Econ in Development Studies as well as PhD candidates in the fields of Governance,
• Public Policy,
• Public Management or Development Studies can submit their scholarship application before they register with UWC through the online application procedure.
• Please submit a letter of application, the DAAD application form (see below), a CV, an academic transcript from your last university and two academic references.

Applicants will be informed about their applications by the end of October.

For More Information and Application, Please Visit; MA & PhD Scholarships for Sub-Saharan African Countries Website

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DRD Scholarships for PhD and Master Studies: The Development Research Division (DRD) of the DAAD-funded South African – German Centre for Development Research and Criminal Justice at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), South Africa is a cooperation project of the Institute of Development Research and Development Policy of Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany, and the School of Government and the Institute for Social Development of University of the Western Cape (UWC).

For applicants from Sub-Saharan African countries with an excellent academic record the Development Research Division (DRD) offers a limited number of DAAD merit scholarships per year.

Scholarships are available for full-time students of

• The MA and M Econ in Development Studies,
• The Master in Public Administration,
• The MA in Development Management (Bochum Programme),
• The PhD in International Development Studies.

Scholarships include monthly allowances of 570 Euro plus travel allowances for Master candidates and 900 Euro plus travel allowances for PhD candidates.

Scholarship applicants are adviced to carefully read about the specific entry requirements and course application procedure of the programme of their choice.

Candidates for the Masters Programme in Public Administration (MPA), the MA and M Econ in Development Studies as well as PhD candidates in the fields of Governance, Public Policy, Public Management or Development Studies can submit their scholarship application before they register with University of the Western Cape (UWC) through the online application procedure.

Deadline: 15th October.

For more information and application, visit: DRD Scholarships for PhD and Master Studies Website

Apply for DRD Scholarships for PhD and Master Studies now

DRD Scholarships for PhD and Master Studies: The Development Research Division (DRD) of the DAAD-funded South African – German Centre for Development Research and Criminal Justice at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), South Africa is a cooperation project of the Institute of Development Research and Development Policy of Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany, and the School of Government and the Institute for Social Development of University of the Western Cape (UWC).

For applicants from Sub-Saharan African countries with an excellent academic record the Development Research Division (DRD) offers a limited number of DAAD merit scholarships per year.

Scholarships are available for full-time students of

• The MA and M Econ in Development Studies,
• The Master in Public Administration,
• The MA in Development Management (Bochum Programme),
• The PhD in International Development Studies.

Scholarships include monthly allowances of 570 Euro plus travel allowances for Master candidates and 900 Euro plus travel allowances for PhD candidates.

Scholarship applicants are adviced to carefully read about the specific entry requirements and course application procedure of the programme of their choice.

Candidates for the Masters Programme in Public Administration (MPA), the MA and M Econ in Development Studies as well as PhD candidates in the fields of Governance, Public Policy, Public Management or Development Studies can submit their scholarship application before they register with University of the Western Cape (UWC) through the online application procedure.

Deadline: 15th October.

For more information and application, visit: DRD Scholarships for PhD and Master Studies Website

The post Apply for DRD Scholarships for PhD and Master Studies now first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is prepared to charge Joseph Kony in case he has been arrested. Intelligence reports and the information the government is getting from satellites show that the LRA leader Joseph Kony is about to be arrested. As a consequence, Joseph Kony’s lawyers in Kampala have gone to Hague and settle with ICC a few issues.

A source tells us that Kony’s lawyer Caleb Alaka went to Hague on March 30^th on sponsorship of an International human rights group/ organisation and Samuel Muyizzi Mulindwa leaves the country on 2^nd April.

Sources tell us that Muyizzi and Caleb Alaka’s trip to Hague is intended to make them prepared to plead for LRA leader in case is truly arrested.

The Ugandan top criminal lawyers also have gone to Hague for a pre trial chamber of the ICC and they are expected to discuss several procedural matters and cases before this Court from the great lakes region and most especially matters touching the indictments of LRA top commanders.

They will also discuss the progress of the International Crimes Division (ICD) of the high court of Uganda, a special division created to try International related crimes and crimes against humanity.

The post International Criminal Court (ICC) prepared to charge Joseph Kony first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

The US soldiers helping Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and the Central African Republic to hunt Kony would have bombed the place where Kony is hiding but doing this would lead to death of many people he is surrounded with.

A source in the UPDF further tells us that US wants to have Kony arrested alive such that he is taken to the International Criminal Court.

The post US forces arrest Joseph Kony first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Ugandans petition ICC to probe Museveni over human rights violations

It seems Ugandan president Gen. Yoweri Museveni is soon becoming the hunted. Sections of Ugandans have written a secret letter to the international Criminal Court (ICC) asking it to probe the increasing human rights abuse in Uganda reportedly by president Museveni using police and other security agencies.

In their petition the petitioners alleged that president Museveni has used police and other security agencies to violet human rights. Sources are shocked that the matter has gone far because some top city criminal lawyers in Kampala have been invited to the ICC. They include Samuel Muyizzi and Caleb Alaka. Alaka and Muyizzi will leave Uganda for ICC on 30^th March 2^nd April 2012 respectively.

When contacted, Caleb Alaka said theirs is a study trip at the pre trial chamber of the ICC and they are expected to discuss several procedural matters and cases before this Court from the great lakes region and most probably some matters touching the indictments of LRA top commanders etc.

The post Ugandans petition ICC to probe Museveni over human rights violations first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Col. Kiiza Besigye says he has heard of calls from NRM government supporters to the effect that the members of Activists for Change (A4C) should be condemned for the killing of a police man on Wednesday.

Besigye however says that he has not heard any supporter of President Museveni saying that the criminal acts of police should be condemned or investigated.

“In professional investigations, we look at the act and the circumstances under which an incidence occurred. NRM supporters should be asking themselves why citizens are reacting to police in such a manner. Why now? And what has gone wrong?

Besigye further says that NRM supporters did not condemn police for the lives that got lost during walk to work I and walk to work phase II, Kasubi tombs firing incident or the Buganda riots of 2009 in which over 27 people died and scores injured.

The post Criminal acts of police should be condemned first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

International Criminal Court – Internships and Visiting Professionals Programme: As an international organisation endeavouring to optimise geographic and gender representation, the Court respects and values diversity and therefore encourages applications from candidates of all nationalities and cultures to its Internship and Visiting Professional Programme.

I. Internships Placements

The Court offers internships to highly motivated young professionals with good academic qualifications who are in the early stages of their careers.

The Internship is a practical educational experience whereby Interns principally assist the staff of the Court in discharging their duties.

Under supervision, Interns are assigned projects and tasks that are relevant to their educational background and interests and provide them with the opportunity to put into practice and further develop their theoretical knowledge.

The work will generally be comparable to the work of the upper general service category or junior professional level.

Internships are offered for a period of between three and six months.

In order to apply for an internship placement, candidates will need to ensure that they meet the general eligibility requirements for Interns in addition to any additional requirements stated by the specific Organ of the Court to which the candidate elects to apply.

II. Visiting Professionals Placements

Visiting Professional placements are offered to candidates who have extensive academic and/or professional expertise in an area of work relevant to or related to the Court.

Visiting Professionals will usually be assigned to a range of tasks or specific projects in a capacity which will both draw upon and augment the specific knowledge or skills of the individual.

The work will generally be comparable to the mid-professional or senior level. In some cases, Visiting Professionals, with specialist knowledge and skills in an area pertaining to the work of the Court may propose a project to be conducted in cooperation with the Court during the course of their placement.

Visiting Professionals will collaborate with senior and junior professional officers and undertake their own projects in consultation with the staff of the Organ to which they elect to be appointed.

Visiting Professional placements are offered for a period of between one and six months duration.

Subject to the Common Rules and Conditions governing the Visiting Professional Programme, it is possible to combine a placement as a Visiting Professional with a period of paid or unpaid leave, or other affiliation with an external entity.

In order to apply for a Visiting Professional placement, candidates will need to ensure that they meet the general eligibility requirements for Visiting Professionals in addition to any additional requirements stated by the specific Organ of the Court to which the candidate elects to apply.

For more information and application materials, see: International Criminal Court – Internships and Visiting Professionals Programme

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The Uganda and UN officials will meet in Entebbe next week to discuss how their secrets ended up leaking to the press.

The UN officials will also use the Kampala meeting to design a comprehensive regional strategy on combating the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels.

The UN meeting will take place on Thursday and Friday. The first UN meeting this year on LRA rebels took place in Kinshasha, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the month of January.

The countries directly affected by the atrocities of LRA are Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Southern Sudan and the Central African Republic.

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HOW: In the case against William Samoei Ruto, Henry Kiprono Kosgey and Joshua Arap Sang, judges confirmed charges of crimes against humanity against Ruto and Sang, but declined to confirm those against Kosgey. In the case against Francis Muthaura, Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta and Mohammed Hussein Ali, judges also confirmed charges of crimes against humanity against Muthaura and Kenyatta, but declined to confirm those against Ali. The decisions were taken by majority of the Chamber, with Judge Hans-Peter Kaul dissenting.

The cases will therefore move to trial against William Samoei Ruto, Joshua Arap Sang, Francis Muthaura and Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta at this stage. Both the prosecution and the defence have the right to request the Chamber to appeal today’s decisions. Today’s decision does not preclude the Prosecutor from re-requesting the confirmation of charges against Kosgey and Ali if supported by additional evidence.

WHO: In the first case, PTC II found that there was sufficient evidence to try William Samoei Ruto (a suspended government minister and deputy party leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)) pursuant to article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute, in the commission of the crimes against humanity of murder (article 7(l)(a)), forcible transfer of population (article 7(l)(d)) and persecution (article 7(l)(h)) during post-election violence in Kenya in 2007-2008.

PTC II also found that there was sufficient evidence to try Sang (head of operations at a radio station in Nairobi ) for having ‘otherwise contributed’ (within the meaning of article 25(3)(d) of the Rome Statute) to the commission of the abovementioned crimes.

However the judges established that they lacked sufficient evidence to try Henry Kiprono Kosgey (a current Member of Parliament and chairman of the ODM) as indirect co-perpetrator of the abovementioned crimes.

In the second case, PTC II found that there was sufficient evidence to try Francis Muthaura (head of the civil service and secretary to the cabinet) and Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta (deputy prime minister and minister for finance) as indirect co-perpetrators pursuant to article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute, in the commission of the crimes against humanity of murder(article 7(l)(a)), forcible transfer of population(article 7(l)(d)), rape (article 7(l)(g)), persecution (article 7(l)(h)) and other inhumane acts (article 7(l)(k)) during the post-election violence in Kenya in 2007-2008.

Judges however established that they lacked sufficient evidence to try Mohammed Hussein Ali (chief executive of the postal corporation) for having ‘otherwise contributed’ (within the meaning of article 25(3)(d) of the Rome Statute) to the commission of the abovementioned crimes.

NEXT STEPS: William Samoei Ruto, Joshua Arap Sang, Francis Muthaura and Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta will face trial before the ICC in due course. Before the start of the trials, a number of preparatory hearings will be held to deal with issues such as the disclosure of evidence to the defense, participation of victims or the language to be used during the trials.

327 and 233 victims have been admitted to participate in the first and second cases respectively, through their legal representatives and will participate in the trial. Additional victims have a right to apply for participation in the trial.

COMMENTS:

“ICJ Kenya supports the decisions confirming the charges against Ruto, Sang, Muthaura and Kenyatta as an important step forward in ensuring justice for the victims of the terrible crimes of the post-election violence of 2007/8,” said George Kegoro, executive director of the Kenya chapter of the International Commission of Jurists. “We underline the judicial, not political, nature of the ICC process which seeks to respond on behalf of the 1200 killed, 900 sexually assaulted and the thousands still in camps as a result of the post-election violence, and urge all Kenyans to be confident in it and let justice run its course.”

“Now that the charges are confirmed ICJ Kenya calls upon the President and Prime Minister to fulfill their obligations to uphold the rule of law and suspend from office Deputy Prime Minister Kenyatta and Head of Civil Service Muthaura in line with chapter 6 of the Kenyan constitution and also call upon the suspects to vacate office of their own volition in line with their statements of 15 December 2010 to cooperate with the ICC,” Kegoro continued. “The suspects now need to present themselves voluntarily to the ICC and the Kenyan government must continue to cooperate with the ICC as per public statements made in this respect, article 86 of the Rome Statute, and Kenya’s International Crimes Act.”

“FIDA Kenya welcomes today’s decision to confirm charges against some of the suspects in these cases, in particular the confirmation of the rape charges against Kenyatta and Muthaura,” said Grace Maingi-Kimani, executive director of the Federation of Women Lawyers Kenya (FIDA Kenya ). “However we also underline the urgent need for the Office of the Prosecutor to bring forward charges for the rape cases in Kibera and Nyanza,” she added. “We further call for a local prosecutorial process to deal with the middle- and lower-level perpetrators of crimes committed during the post-election violence in Kenya .”

“Today’s decision to send these four suspects to trial represents a major step towards justice for victims of grave crimes which brought chaos to Kenya in 2007/2008,” said William R. Pace, Convenor of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court. “The decision declining to confirm charges against Kosgey and Ali does not refute that terrible crimes occurred during the post-election violence, but that the evidence assigning individual responsibility to the defendants did not convince the ICC’s independent judges at this time,” he said. “We now call for increased cooperation with the Court, including through the continued voluntary appearances of the suspects at the forthcoming trial proceedings.”

BACKGROUND: The ICC prosecutor’s investigation into crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Kenya during the 2007-2008 post-election violence was authorized by judges of PTC II on 31 March 2010, following a request by the ICC prosecutor on 26 November 2009. It was the first time the prosecutor initiated an investigation of his own accord (“propio motu”) without the need for a referral from states parties to the Rome Statute or by the United Nations Security Council. On 8 March 2011, PTC II issued summonses to appear for Ruto, Kosgey and Sang, as well as for Muthaura, Kenyatta and Ali, in relation to their alleged roles in the 2007-2008 Kenyan post-election violence, and they made their initial appearance before the ICC on 7 and 8 April 2011 respectively. On 30 August 2011, the ICC Appeals Chamber confirmed the admissibility of the two cases in the Kenya situation, rejecting the challenges of the Kenyan government.

PTC II held confirmation of charges hearings from 1 to 8 September 2011 in the case against Ruto, Kosgey and Sang, and from 21 September to 5 October 2011 in the case against Muthaura, Kenyatta and Ali. On 26 October 2011, PTC II announced that it would issue its decisions on wheth­er to send the cases to trial on the same date due to concerns for the safety of victims and witnesses involved in the cases.

PTC II is composed of judges Ekaterina Trendafilova (Presiding Judge), Hans-Peter Kaul and Cuno Tarfusser.

The ICC is the world’s first permanent international court to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. 120 states have joined the Rome Statute, the Court’s founding treaty. Central to the Court’s m and ate is the principle of complementarity, which holds that the Court will only intervene if national legal systems are unwilling or unable to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. There are currently seven active investigations before the Court: the Central African Republic; the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Côte d’Ivoire; Darfur, the Sudan; Ug and a, Kenya and Libya. The ICC has publicly issued 19 arrest warrants and nine summonses to appear. Three trials are ongoing. The ICC prosecutor has also made public that it is examining eight situations on four continents: Afghanistan , Colombia , Georgia , Guinea , Honduras , Republic of Korea , Nigeria and Palestine .

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According to the CSOs Uganda is a state party to the Rome Statute of International Criminal Court and has domesticated the Rome Statute of ICC. It therefore has an obligation to arrest and surrender all persons whose warrants of arrest have been issued.

Addressing the press in Kampala, HURINET boss, Mohammed Ndifuna said inviting an international criminal suspect to Uganda not only betrays the fight against impunity which Uganda has for long championed but also betrays concerns and interests of victims of the most heinous
crimes both in Uganda and Dafur.

He calls on Uganda to revoke Bashir’s invitation or arrest and surrender him to ICC in an unfortunate event that he attends the summit.

According to Ndifuna, a number of Human Rights Organizations have already started securing a joint alternative domestic arrest warrant against Bashir incase Uganda fails to arrest him just like the Kenyan court.

President Bashir who is among the Great Lakes presidents invited to attend the summit due on 15th and 16th this month in Uganda was the first head of state to be indicted by the ICC, which accuses him of genocide and war crimes in Darfur.

Approximately 2.7 million people have fled their homes since the conflict began in Darfur in 2003, and the UN figures indicate that 300,000 people have died as a result of the unending conflict.

President Bashir says the conflict has killed about 12,000 people but that the number of the dead has been exaggerated for political reasons.

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