We Are Not At Cross Purposes With The IGG As Reported In Some Sections Of The Press
Oct 15, 2003
SIR— The Monitor of October 1, page 3, carried an article “IGG plotting against us, says UHRC bossâ€.
SIR— The Monitor of October 1, page 3, carried an article “IGG plotting against us, says UHRC bossâ€. The reporter, Elias Biryabarema, attributed the views in that title to the Ag. Chairperson, Commissioner Karusoke.
The Commission has fully discussed with Mr Karusoke the contents of the article. We are satisfied that the report was a misrepresentation of what he told the reporter. Karusoke has written to The Monitor stating exactly what he told the reporter. However, in addition, we wish to state the following:
There has never been any rift between our two constitutional institutions. Very often the two institutions refer complaints to each other, participate in each other’s activities like workshops and conferences. We have no grounds for making such an accusation against the IGG.
The Commission has written to the IGG to apologise for all the embarrassment caused him and his much-respected institution by that unfortunate report.
As for the proposal from Cabinet to the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) that the UHRC should be abolished to reduce costs to the Government, our position is as follows:
On August 24, 2001, the Commission submitted its comprehensive view-point to the CRC. Our position was for the continued existence of the UHRC and its permanence in Uganda. That’s still our view.
For we are living in a democratic society, where every institution and person has the right to express views to the CRC. We believe that every view submitted to the CRC is open for debate and we fully know that the CRC will critically study and evaluate each view expressed and come up with its considered recommendations on each item, subject or provision.
We also know that the President and the Cabinet, Parliament, the Judiciary, the security agencies, districts, sub-counties, civil society organisations, NGOs and the vulnerable groups like women, youths, children, persons with disability, workers, prisoners and suspects and all the oppressed, know what the UHRC has done in the seven years of its existence.
Its service has been centred on the people, especially the vulnerable. We believe that there will always be need for a human rights institution to monitor, protect, defend and promote human rights just as the Judiciary and Ombudsman have become a necessity.
Margaret Sekaggya (Mrs)
Chairperson, UHRC
The Commission has fully discussed with Mr Karusoke the contents of the article. We are satisfied that the report was a misrepresentation of what he told the reporter. Karusoke has written to The Monitor stating exactly what he told the reporter. However, in addition, we wish to state the following:
There has never been any rift between our two constitutional institutions. Very often the two institutions refer complaints to each other, participate in each other’s activities like workshops and conferences. We have no grounds for making such an accusation against the IGG.
The Commission has written to the IGG to apologise for all the embarrassment caused him and his much-respected institution by that unfortunate report.
As for the proposal from Cabinet to the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) that the UHRC should be abolished to reduce costs to the Government, our position is as follows:
On August 24, 2001, the Commission submitted its comprehensive view-point to the CRC. Our position was for the continued existence of the UHRC and its permanence in Uganda. That’s still our view.
For we are living in a democratic society, where every institution and person has the right to express views to the CRC. We believe that every view submitted to the CRC is open for debate and we fully know that the CRC will critically study and evaluate each view expressed and come up with its considered recommendations on each item, subject or provision.
We also know that the President and the Cabinet, Parliament, the Judiciary, the security agencies, districts, sub-counties, civil society organisations, NGOs and the vulnerable groups like women, youths, children, persons with disability, workers, prisoners and suspects and all the oppressed, know what the UHRC has done in the seven years of its existence.
Its service has been centred on the people, especially the vulnerable. We believe that there will always be need for a human rights institution to monitor, protect, defend and promote human rights just as the Judiciary and Ombudsman have become a necessity.
Margaret Sekaggya (Mrs)
Chairperson, UHRC