UHRC - Uganda Multimedia News & Information

UHRC asks government to uphold rights of Ugandans

Gerald Businge — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 08:39:15 +0000

Medi Kaggwa

Government has been tasked to uphold the economic, social and cultural rights of Ugandans even as it pursues the campaign to transform the country’s economy. Uganda has been a signatory to the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Treaty since 1987 which mandates the country to uphold those rights.

Now speaking ahead of the third International Conference on economic social and cultural rights slated for tomorrow, the chairman Uganda human rights commission Medi Kaggwa said that the ongoing investments is gradually infringing on people’s human rights. He explained that currently the country government is fronting interests of investors yet people are losing land, health service provision is neglected cultural cites and languages are vanishing, food is becoming a problem yet government is reluctant to intervene. He challenges government to take its responsibility to balance between the public interests and those of investors.

The conference is set to attract all human rights advocates from across Uganda.

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UHRC asks for appending of Anti-Torture Act

Isaac Senabulya — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 12:13:20 +0000

Uganda Human Rights Commission wants the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to append a signature on the regulations which guide the implementations of the Anti-Torture Act 2012 which was passed by Parliament on 18th September 2012.

The Acting Chairman of the Commission Dr. Katebalirwe Amooti says since the law was passed in 2012 it has never been implemented because the enforcing Authorities like Uganda police have no regulation to follow when enforcing the laws.

Dr. Amooti says the number of victims of torture is on increase every year from Organization, work places, security operatives among others yet the law which would have used to crack down all oppressors is inactive.

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UHRC calls on government for funding

Isaac Senabulya — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 07:58:46 +0000

The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) is in a financial crisis if government does not provide funding for the 2016/17 budget as donors are set to stop funding the commission. Appearing before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee to present the proposals for 2016/2017 budget, the Secretary to the Commission, Gordon Mwesigye said that 30 percent of their budget is funded by donors but this is going to stop. He says that donor financing is important for running of tribunals and civic education for the Uganda Human rights commission but donors may stop funding by July 2017.

Mwesigye urged the government to plan accordingly and provide for this funding so that these two core areas are not paralyzed. He also revealed that there is need for more presence around the country in order to have the Commission services availed to all the people both in urban and rural areas.

The Uganda Human Rights commission is seeking parliament to approve 13.7 billion shillings for the financial year 2016/17. UHRC investigates and resolves human rights complaints through its tribunal as well as, visits jails and prisons and other places of detention to assess the conditions of inmates. The Commission also monitors government’s compliance with international treaties and conventions on human rights.

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