End Arrests of Political Opponents in Uganda - Rights Experts
A group of independent human rights experts, reporting to the UN on the election process in Uganda, is calling for authorities in the country to end the arrest, detention and judicial harassment of political opponents, civil society leaders and human rights defenders. These concerns come amid an increase in violence ahead of Uganda's January 14, 2021, presidential election and include reports of the death of an opposition politician's bodyguard, along with injuries sustained by three journalists hit by teargas canisters. The group has also reiterated their concerns at the misuse and abuse of health-related restrictions to curb dissent, saying: "... time and again, we have emphasised that the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic should not be used as a pretext to infringe on fundamental freedoms. Combating terrorism should never be used as a justification to undermine the credibility of associations, or to unduly impede their legitimate work", they said.
Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.
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Uganda:
End Arrests of Political Opponents in Uganda - UN Independent Experts
UN News, 29 December 2020
A group of independent UN human rights experts called on Ugandan authorities to end the arrest, detention and judicial harassment of political opponents, civil society leaders and… Read more »
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Uganda:
No End to Election-Related Violence in Uganda
DW, 29 December 2020
Tensions are rising as Uganda gears up to a general election. President Yoweri Museveni, in power for 36 years, changed the constitution to be able to run again. Experts fear that… Read more »
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Kenya:
Ugandan Journalists Storm Out of Meeting With Army
Nairobi News, 29 December 2020
Journalists in Uganda on Monday stormed out of a security meeting with the army and Police citing brutality from the security forces and unprovoked attacks on the fourth estate. Read more »
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Uganda:
Uganda Deports Foreign Journalists Over Elections
Monitor, 1 December 2020
Uganda has deported journalists attached to CBC News, a Canadian public broadcaster, who were in the country to cover the 2021 General Election. Read more »
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Uganda:
Journalists Paying the Price
Monitor, 20 November 2020
Journalists covering the presidential campaigns have faced the wrath of security forces on what seems to be targeted attacks on the media to scare them from covering the violence… Read more »
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Uganda:
Crackdown on Reporters Threatens Ugandan Election's Credibility
RSF, 26 November 2020
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns a wave of attacks against journalists and media outlets in Uganda in recent days during an increasingly turbulent presidential election… Read more »
InFocus
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With a little over a month before the presidential elections, Uganda has revoked media accreditation for all foreign journalists, including those already registered to cover the ... Read more »
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A month into campaigning, this is already the bloodiest general election in Uganda's history with more than 50 people shot dead last month. Uganda police have, through operations ... Read more »
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As Uganda descended into violent protests that swept the capital Kampala and several towns across the country after oppsition leader, Bobi Wine was arrested, former ... Read more »
Arrest of Patrick Amuriat, presidential candidate for the Forum for Democratic Change, on November 18, 2020 in Gulu District in Uganda (file photo).