Commission members meeting the deputy speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah

The Amnesty commission plead to parliament to amend the law that established this commission so as there is no uncertainty of its existence. This was disclosed by the chairperson of the Amnesty commission Peter Onega while the commission members were meeting the deputy speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah  at parliament over the issues affecting the Amnesty commission.

Justice Onega says that the commission faces a challenge about the life span of the amnesty process since its existence depends on extension by parliament. He says that since the current two year term of office extension of the Amnesty Act will end on 24th  May 2017, he fears that the amendment process is slow and likely to take a long time yet the commission’s existence will end in May 2017.

However, Justice Onega has revealed that new rebel groups have risen citing one in Kapchorwa known as Uganda saving force. He said that the commission plans to reintegrate 6000 former rebels who surrendered to the commission and victims at a cost 4.5 billion shilling and despite this Amnesty commission cry of under funding.

The Amnesty commission has since demobilized 27000 former rebels, 13100 from Lord’s Resistance Army and 2553 from ADF. 21213 rebels resettled and 8182 have been reintegrated through skill training and project undertaking.

The deputy speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah observed the need for government to give enough funds to the Amnesty to avoid causing temptation among the returning rebels going back to rebel activities  due lack of funds for their resettling package.

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A section of members of parliament have demanded the implementation of laws in relation to children’s rights protection. This as Uganda today is has joined the world to celebrate the  Day of the African Child Under the theme “ Conflict and Crisis in Africa: Protecting all Children’s Rights”.

MPs say that Uganda has enough laws protecting the children but are questioning their   implementation.
Makindye East mp Ibrahim Kasozi  and mawokota south mp John Bosco Lubyayi says that the children laws should be put in practice ,adding that some parents violate children’s rights and when are arrested they bribe police and are released. MPs say that more children’s laws are still required to protect children from neglect

The woman Member of Parliament for Kumi district Monica Amoding says that what is missing in children’s laws is the sensitization of the community about the existing laws .

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Mukono municipality Member of Parliament Betty Nambooze Bakireke  is moving a private members bill to regulate Alcoholic drinks. Nambooze is fronting a bill known as the Alcoholic drinks control bill 2016 to repeal the Enguli Act of 1966 which is believed to not be a deterrent because of its weak penalties. She says that she is the right person to front this bill in parliament since she is part of the group taking alcohol, adding that the law is not punitive but designed for prevention and rehabilitation of alcohol abusers.

Nambooze proposes that the sale of alcohol shall be starting at 5pm to midnight on working days to encourage people who may think about taking alcohol to go for work. She says that the bill will regulate advertisement of alcohol including songs promoting taking alcohol, noting that though government gets taxes from alcohol it has not invested these taxes in addressing the effects which come with the abuse of alcohol like accidents, diseases and crimes.

She says that it will be illegal to sale alcohol to persons visibly drunk and there shall be no recovery through suit if a person fails to clear the bills for the alcohol taken and added that in this bill they will insert a section barring leaders from buying alcohol for the people.

The bill seeks to protect children from alcohol since there are many school children taking alcohol. Reports show that Uganda is ranked 8th  among the world’s best drinking nations.

Uganda Alcohol statistics by WHO

Alcohol Statistics

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Prof. Josephine Ahikire

The dean of the school of women and gender issues at Makerere university, Prof. Josephine Ahikire is called for student engagement in the fight against education sexualization at the country’s highest and oldest education institution. In a symposium held at the women and gender school at Makerere, Prof. Ahikire said a well structured system to handle issues of sexualization at the university should be strongly set up to help handle such issues for the students to send their issues for maximum solving. She also added that such cases have been happening at the university but have not seen light since the victims have chosen to stay silent and now they are asking students to be the rape preventers for the vice to be curbed down.

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The brewery industry is strongly concerned with the fast growing trends of underage alcohol consumption in the country and now the industry is strongly reminding government to expeditiously start implementing the laws that govern underage alcohol drinking.

According to the marketing manager Spirits, Edgar Birungi and the brand manager Uganda Waragi, Rhona  Namanya, its unethical for children under 18 years to consume alcohol noting that such acts are de-campaigned by Uganda breweries limited to help the under aged maintain their health. They further mention the need to have UNBS come up serious on various spirit distillers across the country which total to 60 to ensure quality that befits the consumers in the country.

The double concern raised by UBL comes at a time when the company has slashed the price of Uganda Waragi sachet from UGX.1800 to now UGX.1500 as a way of giving back to their clients.

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A section of Ugandans have embarked on a massive campaign that is geared towards compelling government through parliament to make adjustments in the current laws governing safe abortion, with the campaign seeing the activists collecting over a million signatures to be used to petition the coming parliament to work on their call.

According to the Commissioner reproductive health at the Ministry of health, Colline Tusingwire condemned unsafe abortions saying they have continued to claim many lives in the country adding that failure to recognize the vice yet it is with us will mean more lives will continue to be lost.

Meanwhile, the outgoing president of the Association of gynaecologists, Dr. Charles Kigundu, mentioned that 840 pregnancies are terminated daily saying this sometimes costs many lives of Ugandans causing government to spend UGX.7.5Bn to extend care to women and girls who have had problems due to unsafe abortions.

The advocacy officer, at Center for Health Human Rights and Development (CEHURD), Joyious Akira, confirms that unsafe abortions account for an estimated 26% of preventable maternal deaths in Uganda which now calls for the country to prioritize sexual reproductive health.

The world today, 28th of September, marks the International day on Safe Abortion.

International Campaign Video on Safe Abortion

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Speaker Rebecca Kadaga with Dr. Uchenna Emelonye

The new Country Director, United Nations, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCR) Dr. Uchenna Emelonye has offered free assistance to parliament to provide intervention in laws so as they meet Human rights standards. This was revealed to the Speaker of the Parliament Rebecca Kadaga during a meeting with Dr. Emelonye  at parliament.

Dr. Emelonye expressed interest in working with Parliament, especially in areas of Human Rights, and cited legislations like the Anti- Terrorism Bill and the recent NGO Bill as areas of interest, noting that there is a presumption that MPs  have passed laws that violate human rights.

The Speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga, in her response informed the Country Director that Parliament had a Committee on Human Rights and they had developed a checklist to be used in assessing Bills that are presented before Parliament. Kadaga said that it could be good for other parliamentary committees to consult the Human Rights committee and use Human rights checklists when scrutinizing bills so as they act in public interest.

The Speaker also informed the director OHCR that the Attorney General should be in position to send OHCR the Bills for advice before they are passed. Kadaga  further  advised the  director to send the agreements to the legislature and judiciary which are being signed between government and such organizations, instead of dealing with the executive only.

Dr. Emelonye pledged to work hand in hand with the government and requested that the Speaker opens her office to them at all times.

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