Uganda‘s commitment to upholding human rights values is questionable following the recent arrest of civil society activists in the country.
Development Diaries reports that Ugandan security forces stormed the Hotel Eliana in Ntinda, Kampala, during a press conference on Wednesday, whisking away several activists to an unknown destination.
According to media reports, among those apprehended were Habib Buwembo and Sylivia Namukwaya, and comedian Samuel Okanya, alias Sammy.
Dozens of Ugandans have in the past days been arrested for participating in anti-corruption protests which the police deemed illegal.
The protesters have put forward several demands, including the resignation of the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, and the four backbench commissioners, a reduction in the number of Ugandan parliamentarians, and an audit into the lifestyles of the parliamentarians.
We understand that corruption is a major issue in the East African country, with several major scandals involving public officials.
Uganda has international human rights obligations to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of everyone within its jurisdiction, without discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, social origin, political opinion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or other prohibited grounds.
In its Freedom in the World Report 2024, Freedom House ranked Uganda as ‘not free’, with the country scoring 34 points out of a possible 100.
Development Diaries calls on the Ugandan government to immediately order the release of every protester detained by security forces in line with the country’s commitment to respect citizens’ rights to peaceful protests and assembly.
Source: NilePost
Photo source: Dorah Ishimwe
