Uganda
Friday 19.10.2018 Uganda - Latest Developments -
Protests banned and journalists Attacked as Popular Opposition MP Returns
Bobi wine returns to the country, amidst a ban on protests. CSOs raise concerns over increased office break ins with no conclusive investigations. Journalists continue to bear the brunt of police brutality. Read more
Wednesday 22.8.2018 Uganda - Latest Developments -
Protests violently dispersed, while conditions for journalists sharply deteriorate
Several protests were violently dispersed by security agents, MPs were arrested, detained and tortured after an election campaign turned violent, while cases of intimidation and assault on journalists covering protests are on a sharp increase. Read more
Monday 16.7.2018 Uganda - Latest Developments -
Activists arrested and MP slain as Ugandans protest insecurity
In Uganda, arbitrary arrests of activists considered to hold dissenting opinions have become commonplace, targeting members of parliament, journalists and even unarmed protesters. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) community had their meetings disallowed by authorities, while the government imposed a social media tax which raised concerns on its adverse effects on the freedom of expression. Read more
Thursday 10.5.2018 Uganda - Latest Developments -
Journalists denied access to police courts
In April, Ugandan journalist were denied access to a police court that was expected to hand down a ruling on charges against a former police commander . In March , the court declined to grant an application by human rights activist Stella Nyanzi seeking dismissal of the criminal charges against her. Authorities dropped charges of against the artist David Mugema and producer John Muwanguzi, for a song allegedly calling for President Yoweri Museveni to retire. Read more
Thursday 8.3.2018 Uganda - Latest Developments -
Authorities fail to investigate break-ins targeting human rights organisations
The offices of Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF), a human rights organization, were broken into in February 2018. At least 30 CSOs have had break-ins since 2015 with few perpetrators held to account by the police. Read more
Tuesday 23.1.2018 Uganda - Latest Developments -
Museveni signs controversial bill as crackdown on civic space continues
On 2nd January 2018, President Yoweri Museveni signed a controversial bill - the Constitutional Amendment Act - that removes the constitutional presidential age limit of 75 years, thereby allowing Museveni to run in the next presidential election and possibly extend his rule to 2037. Read more
Monday 18.12.2017 Uganda - Latest Developments -
URGENT ACTION: RELEASE 16 DETAINED ACTIVISTS IMMEDIATELY
Reposted from Rhize: Read more
Tuesday 7.11.2017 Uganda - Latest Developments -
Opposing voices and views on presidential age limit removal not tolerated
In the early morning of 3rd October, unidentified individuals attacked the homes of two opposition members of parliament (MP) with suspected grenades just days after another opposition member, Moses Kasibante, experienced a similar incident on 27th September. Allan Ssewanya (MP for Makindye West), says one grenade was thrown into his home, while Robert Kyagulanyi (MP for Kyaddondo West), popularly known as Bobi Wine, said three grenades had exploded and smashed the window of his son’s bedroom. The MPs were among a group of 25 MPs suspended from Parliament on 27th September following chaos and a brawl during a motion over the controversial removal of the presidential age limit from the Constitution. In a Facebook post, Bobi Wine stated that no one had been hurt in the blast at his home, but that he had been receiving "death threats on an almost daily basis. In late October, Ugandan MPs were each given 29 million Ugandan shillings (US $8,000) as a payout for consultations with their constituencies on the constitutional amendment, in a move decried by critics as a bribe. A similar payment was offered to legislators in 2005 when President Museveni sought to remove a constitutional two-term cap for presidents Read more
Friday 29.9.2017 Uganda - Latest Developments -
Civic space restricted as age limit debate continues
Prior to MP legislator Raphael Magyezi was expected to table a motion in Parliament as a first step in among other amendments, removing the constitutional presidential age limit, police officers raided the offices of two civil society organisations, and protests against the constitutional amendments were banned. The debate in the Parliament was postponed, after some Members of Parliament were barred entry to the Parliament to participate in the debate. Read more
